I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction for some transport info for Vancouver BC, Vancouver Island and links to and from Bellingham, WA.

I'm so used to travelling on British Rail sites I feel totally lost when trying to find rail and other links in the US and Canada, in fact I can't even find the train schedules!

I am wanting to find out how to get from Vancouver (where I land) down to Bellingham - preferably by train. So I would also like to know what area the railway station is in so I can get a hotel closeby. I am assuming there is a train?

Then my next snag is trying to get to Victoria on Vancouver Island from Bellingham.

The map looks like it's best to get immediately west, but I can't seem to find a regular Ferry service that does this.

I've never visited Canada or the US and feeling more than a little daunted!

Thanks for any tips and info

Hi;
There is no real train service for commuters and travelers in this part of Canada like there is in Europe and the UK.
Are you staying in Bellingham; is that why you have to go there first then back to Canada?
If you don't have to go to Bellingham, (ie: perhaps you can stay in Vancouver and have your Bellingham friends come up to Vancouver to see you there); then I wouldn't.
To get to Victoria; you would either have to drive to Seattle and get the ferry from there to Victoria; or: I just found this website http://www.ferrytravel.com/bellingham.htm
which at one part says there is a ferry B. to Vic.; and in another says there is not(!!)or; come back up to Vancouver and get it from there.
Here is the BC Ferries (Canada) website: http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/

Please let me know if you need more info; I live in Vancouver.
When are you in Canada?

Amtrak Cascades travels between
Vancouver, BC - Seattle - Tacoma - Portland - Salem - Eugene

It take about 2 hours to go from Vancouver to Bellingham. The station codes are:
Vancouver, BC (VAC)
Bellingham, WA (BEL)

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/...667297/1237405732511

Regards,
Sheryl

It isn't very easy to get between Bellingham and Vancouver by public transportation. One option is the train. Here is a link that has information about the Bellingham Amtrak services. The train actually goes to Fairhaven which is an area in the south portion of Bellingham. This is where the Bellingham Cruise Terminal is also located. Fairhaven is very nice, historic area but be aware, it is not the downtown area. There are limited services near by as far as hotels. The Amtrak link above has a map of the location.

The only other way that I can think of to get to Bellingham is by bus. It sounds like the Grayhound bus terminal is also at the same location as the train. There is a Grayhound bus from Vancouver to Bellingham. There is also a Quick Coach shuttle service between Vancouver and Seattle which has frequent service. It stops at the Bellingham airport.

I did not think there was a ferry to Victoria either. The main WA state ferries run from Anacortes which is about an hour away and impossible to get to by public transportation from Bellingham. And the BC Ferries. But I saw the link SJ posted and I found the service. It is only available in the summer and it is passenger only. It is more of a cruise but you can use it to get to Victoria - Victoria - San Juan cruises. It also leaves from Fairhaven.

I'm also wondering why you are going to Bellingham? Cruise?

Why not just go to Victoria from Vancouver via BC ferries? You'll still have to find public transportation from where you're staying in Vancouver to the ferry terminal, but I'm sure that can be done.

Another option would be to take the train down from Bellingham to Seattle, and take the passenger ferry Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle to Victoria.
http://www.clippervacations.com/ferry_schedule

The nice thing about the Clipper is that is docks right in the center of Victoria, so there's no need to find your way into town from a distant ferry dock.

If you did take a bus or train across the border; you also have to factor in the wait time for Customs to check out all the people on board.
That could be from 30 mins to a couple of hours, depending on how picky they want to be!
Also; the train station in Vancouver is on the edge of downtown ; the airport is out in Richmond; and the ferry terminal to Victoria is out in Tsawwassen.
And, depending on your nationality; do you need a visa for the USA?
See a Google map for locations.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

I also found this website;
http://search.gotobus.com/cgi-...urn_date=&quantity=1

This bus might do you, if you can be collected at the Bellingham airport?

quote:

Another option would be to take the train down from Bellingham to Seattle, and take the passenger ferry Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle to Victoria.
http://www.clippervacations.com/ferry_schedule

Where in Seattle does one catch the Victoria Clipper?

The Victoria Clipper is easy to catch in Seattle. It leaves from pier 69. This is just down from the Seattle Center in the Belltown area and just a bit north of the main waterfront and downtown area. It can be walked from downtown or there is a bus that runs along the waterfront. The Edgewater Hotel is right next door.

'Where to catch the boat" - Victoria Clipper

Thanks, Marta. We plan to go to Victoria for the 10th time in May. Just considering flying to Seattle, then taking the ferry if it's convenient. Most likely, we will fly direct on United.

OOOh, so many links to study

Thank you all!

I have business to attend to in Bellingham, and this will take about a week. So I am taking the opportunity to take some time in Canada after I have attended to this.

My preference is not to travel down to Seattle, so that is why I was hoping to catch a ferry from Bellingham to Victoria direct. Even a short cruise would be good.

I'll go and see what I can find from your links.

The ferry between Anacortes and Sidney with land transportation connections to Victoria has ceased operations until March. If that's when you plan to be in Bellingham, there's a bus from Bellingham to Mt. Vernon - 80X - with some connections to Anacortes - you'd have to transfer from the Skagit station to a Park & Ride location and then connect to Anacortes on the 410.

Island Connector

If you take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island, you dock at Swartz Bay and it's a 30 minute bus ride down to Victoria.

I work in Bellingham (WWU) and we plan to do the ferry trip from Fairhaven to Victoria this summer - it takes you right to the Inner Harbour.

Yggdrasil: when are you planning to arrive here?
If it's more toward spring/summer, it sounds as if there are more options for your connections.