Amtrak debuts first US-Canada preclearance facility in Vancouver

Customers traveling to the United States from Vancouver, British Columbia, on Amtrak Cascades trains can now complete U.S. preclearance before boarding at VIA Rail Canada's Pacific Central Station.

The preclearance process consolidates inspection, security and customs procedures into a single step prior to departure so that trains departing Vancouver will proceed directly into the United States without stopping en route for border screening, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

While preclearance has long been available for air travel, Pacific Central Station is the first rail station in North America to offer this capability.

The streamlined procedures will enhance border security and early threat detection by increasing collaboration between Canada and the United States and will strengthen cross-border tourism and broader economic activity, Canadian officials said.

“The launch of U.S. preclearance at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station marks a major milestone in making cross-border travel and trade between our two countries safer, faster, and more efficient,” said Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s minister of public safety. “I want to thank officials in both countries and all partners and agencies for their leadership and collaboration in strengthening the security of our shared border and bringing this streamlined rail service to life.”

The Washington State Department of Transportation, VIA Rail Canada and numerous agencies in both countries, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada and Public Safety Canada, cooperated to introduce the change.