Amtrak's New Trains Left in the Dust by Low-Cost Airline
As Amtrak prepares to debut its new $8 billion Airo trainsets, SeaPort Airlines is offering an alternative that cuts travel time by over half without massive public investment.
SeaPort Airlines Founder and CEO Kent Craford says his airline provides a faster and more convenient way to travel between Seattle and Portland or Spokane, operating from Seattle's Boeing Field with free parking, no TSA hassle, and flights departing every day. In contrast, Amtrak shares track with freight lines, making the journey a minimum seven-hour roundtrip.
Craford will ride Train 503 on September 30th to speak to Amtrak's costs, operating challenges, and the proposed new train boondoggle, the 'Cascadia' High Speed Rail line that WashDOT is spending $55 million just to study. SeaPort Airlines has required no public subsidy to operate and saves passengers over half their time compared to driving or flying through SeaTac airport.