Las Vegas train in use in Washington

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Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.

The silver, blue and white high-speed train Amtrak plans to use between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is now in service in Washington state.

The 300-passenger train built by Renfe Talgo of America, based in Seattle, is being used on the Amtrak Cascades route between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Talgo officials said the train was placed in service last month when the existing Cascades train was deployed to serve growing ridership on a Seattle, Portland and Eugene, Ore., route.

Vernae Graham, a spokeswoman for Amtrak West, said the train is "on loan" in the Northwest until Los Angeles-Las Vegas service begins.

Named the "Las Vegas" by Talgo officials, the $12 million train was brought to the city nearly a year ago during the Governor's Conference on Travel and Tourism.

The Las Vegas service is on indefinite hold pending resolution of environmental and engineering issues.