Amtrak's ''Mt. Rainier'' to become ''The Cascadia'' Oct. 29; change announced in conjunction...

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 1995--In a taped message to rail and transit supporters attending a RAIL-VOLUTION conference in Portland, Amtrak President and Chairman Thomas M. Downs announced that the Eugene, Ore.-Seattle ``Mt. Rainier'' train will become ``The Cascadia'' effective with

The decision was made after Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., suggested to Downs that the ``Cascadia'' name might better reflect the train's entire route.

Amtrak's ``Mt. Rainier'' was extended 124 miles from Portland to Eugene last October through financial support from Oregon. Since the extension was initiated, ``Mt. Rainier'' ridership and revenue have increased by 56.8 percent and 67.2 percent, respectively.

``Sen. Hatfield's suggestion of `The Cascadia' is right on the money,'' said Downs. ``I am pleased to be doing this to recognize the strong contribution the Eugene-to-Portland extension has made to the overall economic viability of this train,'' he said. ``I just wish I had thought of it!'' Downs added.

``A train by another name would not describe how the future of rail travel, including high-speed rail travel, has captured the imagination of Oregonians,'' Hatfield said. ``I'm very pleased by the change.''

The ``Mt. Rainier'' extension and the initiation of service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, with the ``Mt. Baker International'' have contributed to ridership growth in fiscal year 1995 of more than 120 percent in the Pacific Northwest rail corridor through August.

Revenues for the same period have increased 135 percent. The corridor also includes Amtrak's Washington-supported ``Mt. Adams,'' which operates daily between Seattle and Portland.

``This rail corridor has returned the most significant growth in Amtrak's entire system,'' said Downs. ``This is a tribute to the strong philosophical and financial commitments from Oregon and Washington -- at the local, state and federal levels.''

CONTACT: Amtrak, Los Angeles

Dawn Soper, 213/891-3475