Amtrak has suspended Cascades service between Seattle and Portland through Friday, Aug. 7, after an Aug. 2 fire gutted the eight‑story, 116‑year‑old Centennial Mills building near Portland Union Station. The building's exterior and a rooftop water tower are precarious, prompting firefighters to keep their distance while more than 100 personnel fought the blaze. Amtrak plans to provide bus substitutions when possible and is offering free rebooking or refunds; customers will be notified via text, email and the Amtrak app.
Amtrak Cascades Suspended Through Aug. 7 After Major Fire Damages Centennial Mills Near Portland Union Station
Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland has been suspended through Aug. 7 because of a fire that gutted the Centennial Mills building in Portland, shown in 2023. The structure is on the verge of collapse. Google Earth
PORTLAND — Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland has been suspended through Friday, Aug. 7, after an Aug. 2 fire gutted the eight-story, 116-year-old Centennial Mills building adjacent to the rail corridor northwest of Portland Union Station.
The blaze destroyed all eight floors of the vacant warehouse and left the exterior walls and a rooftop water tower precarious, authorities said. The structure is considered unstable; Portland Fire & Rescue reported that firefighters have largely kept their distance and used a search dog to check for possible human remains.
If this building collapses, we don't want anybody in the area to be in that potential danger zone. An additional part is that giant water tower that sits atop. When that comes down, if that doesn't flatten itself and stop where it is, that cylindrical object will roll like a bowling ball. So even being out of the collapse zone doesn't necessarily mean you're entirely safe if that thing's running down the street at you like Indiana Jones.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze after it was reported at about 4 p.m. on Aug. 2, but concerns about the structure's stability limited crews to operating from a distance, KATU-TV and KGW-TV reported.
Service Impact and Customer Options
Amtrak announced on social media that Cascades service — which normally runs six daily round trips between Portland and Seattle — will be suspended through Aug. 7 while crews and engineers assess the safety of the rail corridor. The affected tracks are used not only by Amtrak but also by BNSF and the Portland & Western.
Amtrak said it is working to provide bus substitutions when possible. Customers will be notified by text, email and the Amtrak app; travelers may rebook at no charge or cancel for a full refund. Passengers are advised to confirm the current status of the Coast Starlight on Amtrak's website or with customer service, as online listings may not distinguish between rail service and bus substitutions.
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