Five railroads used Portland Union Station. East of the station was the beginning of the Southern Pacific main line south into California, and the Union Pacific main east towards Omaha. And north of the station was Spokane Portland & Seattle, jointly owned by Great Northern and Northern Pacific. SP&S operated a branch line west to Seaside. But the SP&S main line crossed the Columbia River north into Vancouver WA. At Vancouver, the SP&S line turned east towards Spokane, and was used by GN and NP trains operating east to Minneapolis and St. Paul. While continuing north was the main line operated by NP, but also used by GN and UP for passenger trains north to Seattle. Amtrak continues to operate north to Seattle and east towards Spokane, and south via the SP line. UP passenger trains to Seattle used the UP Kenton Line between East Portland and North Portland Jct. Between 1977 and 1997, Amtrak also operated east via the UP route.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
East Portland (1/2 mile E) - junction of UP, SP.
Willbridge (4 miles N) - junction of SP&S main line, Seaside line.
North Portland Jct. (8 miles N) - junction of SP&S main line, UP Kenton Line.
Vancouver (10 miles N) - junction of SP&S main line, NP joint Seattle line.