WSDOT, Amtrak unveil first electric bus for Cascade route
Electric buses are the first e-vehicle in the Amtrak National Network and will replace diesel-powered buses.
SEATTLE – Amtrak and the Washington Department of Transportation unveiled their first electric bus on Wednesday that will carry passengers for part of the time Amtrak . waterfall route.
Electric buses are the first e-vehicle in the Amtrak National Network and will replace diesel-powered buses.
The electric bus will provide transit between Seattle and Bellingham with stops at Everett and Mount Vernon and can cover nearly 200 miles on a single charge.
“WSDOT is excited to be the first company in the country to offer electric bus service on the intercity route of Amtrak’s National Network,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Roger Millar. “The addition of a clean energy bus to our fleet further affirms our commitment to providing eco-friendly travel options in the Pacific Northwest.”
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Seattle-based MTRWestern owns and operates electric buses and contracted Amtrak for the project. According to Amtrak, the electric bus will save about 10,000 gallons of diesel per year, cutting CO2 emissions by 109 tons per year.
“The future is electric and we are committed to providing carbon-free group and intercity transit throughout the Pacific Northwest. We see this partnership on the route as a transition towards even greater regional tram transit,” said MTRWestern President Jeremy Butzlaff.
Amtrak says electric buses will help company grow pledge to be net zero by 2045.
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