Due to Geography quirks some BC Surrey and surrounding area residentts have to go thru US to get to Vancouver (details unknown ) Then if wanting to go to Seattle thru customs again.
The below article might be a negoiating stepping stone for additional Cascades service to Vancouver unlike problem with 2nd olympic continuing ? This could be considered a direct benefit for Canadians ??
http://www.thenorthernlight.com/news/article.exm/2012-03-07_surrey_city_coungo thrucil_supports_blaine_train_stop
Blue Streak,
I can not get article to come up. Surry BC residents do NOT have to pass through US to get to Vancouver BC.
The border is the 49th parallel until it hits the agreed chanel between the US and Canada.
There is a small peninsula that extends south of the 49th parallel, and thus the boundry. This peninsula is US territory and those residents have to pass Canadian customs to drive off the peninsula. If they are going to a point in the US, say Bellingham, Everett, or Seattle then they have to pass through US customs, and most would do so at Blaine as it is the most convenient . The double crossing in the reverse direction is also required.
Mac McCuloch
PNWRMNM Blue Streak, I can not get article to come up. Surry BC residents do NOT have to pass through US to get to Vancouver BC. The border is the 49th parallel until it hits the agreed chanel between the US and Canada. There is a small peninsula that extends south of the 49th parallel, and thus the boundry. This peninsula is US territory and those residents have to pass Canadian customs to drive off the peninsula. If they are going to a point in the US, say Bellingham, Everett, or Seattle then they have to pass through US customs, and most would do so at Blaine as it is the most convenient . The double crossing in the reverse direction is also required. Mac McCuloch
Incidentally, if you go between Victoria and Vancouver by ferry, you cross the United States--but you do not need to go through customs in either direction.
Johnny
?Another try
www.thenorthernlight.com/news/article.exm/2012_03_07_surrey_city_council_supports_blaine_train_stop
I managed to copy and paste the article headline text into a search engine and found the article. I think that is a excellent idea. I rode the train many times to Vancouver and was puzzled at the long distances between stations. Blaine even has it's own train station that is boarded up if my memory serves me right.
Once you cross the border into Canada the next stop is downtown Vancouver which is a long ways away. I always felt like there should be a train station at White rock as this is a very popular destination for tourist and locals alike. A station in New westminster would also be ideal.
The White rock station would be a better choice. Canadians wouldn't have to go through the long border crossing wait by car to get to Blaine. The customs on the trains only takes about a minute if that.
blue streak 1 Another try www.thenorthernlight.com/news/article.exm/2012_03_07_surrey_city_council_supports_blaine_train_stop
Another try
well i see news wire finally picked up info about this with the addition of Canadians campaigning to save station.
http://trn.trains.com/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2012/03/Efforts%20under%20way%20to%20save%20Blaine%20passenger%20station.aspx
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