Main speakers were Bruce Agnew, Loren Herringstad (president, All Aboard Washington), and Larry Johnson (Johnson Partnership Architects).
Contributing representatives were:

Lower BC:

• Grant Meyer, White Rock City Councilor
• Marvin Hunt, Surrey City Councilor
• Ray Hudson, Surrey Board of Trade

Washington State:

• Loni Rahm, Director, Bellingham/Whatcom Tourism Bureau
• David Davidson, Program Director, Border Policy Research Institute, WWU
• Dodd Snodgrass, Director of Economic Development, Port of Bellingham
• Bill Becht, organizer, motivator, instigator
• Bob Boule, President, Blaine Chamber of Commerce
• Len Saunders, Immigration Law Firm
• Gordon Rogers, Deputy Director, Whatcom Council of Governments
• Hugh Conroy, IMTC Project Manager, Whatcom Council of Governments
• Melissa Miller, IMTC Project coordinator, Whatcom Council of Governments
• Jack Lowes, Whatcom County Executive
• Gary Tomsic, City Manager, City of Blaine
• Bill Bullock, Director of Public Works, City of Blaine
• Michael Jones, Community Development Director, City of Blaine
• Debbie Harger, Tourism & Community Events, City of Blaine
• Ken Oplinger, City Councilor, City of Blaine
• Bonnie Onyon, Mayor, City of Blaine
• Jack Niemann, Black Forest Steakhouse
• Tony Dolk, Website developer

The Blaine City Manager Gary Tomsic opened the meeting, since the mayor Bonnie Onyon, who had organized the meeting, was unable to be heard beyond a whisper due to a touch of laryngitis.
Bruce Agnew outlined the process that would need to be followed, involving various departments, organizations, agencies and groups. He stated that Blaine Station makes sense for various reasons, and that the chances of a successful outcome is favorable. Both commuter rail and Amtrak service was covered, with the likely hood that Amtrak (too & from Vancouver) would precede the commuter service. The 3 to 5 minute delay stopping at Blaine could be mitigated by rail improvements on either side of the border. Among other topics he discussed were:

• Our unique marine geography and historic Tribal and First Nation heritage, as well as new economic opportunities of enhanced Amtrak Cascades service, growing inter-city coach operations and expanded flight destinations from Bellingham International Airport, i.e. "Gateway Semiahmoo"
• Binational cooperation, both WA State & BC governments and residents
• Funding options - available grants, public private partnerships to leverage federal & state funds
• Weekend rail promotions (cruise ships, casinos, cycling clubs)
• Extension of the Blaine siding - free up main line while CGSA conducts inspection of Northbound train
• Relocating the VACIS (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System)
• DMU's (Diesel Mechanical Units) - cheaper to operate than conventional, carry 24 bicycles, bistro, wi-fi
• Rail improvements, infrastructure & operational costs
• Staffing of trains, labor unions, costs
• Customs & border crossing issues
• Parking, waterfront access, covered boardwalk from customs to station
• Translink service to the border

Loren Herringstad ( All Aboard Washington) discussed the need to form an action group, and offered ideas from his experience with a similar project with the Olympia-Lacey station. Together with grants, donations of cash and materials, and donated labor, they made it happen. Today the station is served by 10 daily trains.
He emphasized the requirement to get the community on both sides of the border behind this, and suggested the community endeavor to own the station as well as run it, as was done at Olympia-Lacey.

Larry Johnson offered ideas on the restoration of the building, and hurdles to overcome.

The meeting was then opened for discussion. The BC representatives emphasized the advantages to 750,000 residents south of the Fraser river. Now that the White Rock station is no longer an option, they threw in their full support for the project. Questions were asked and answered, and the meeting closed on an optimistic note.

There is a lot of work to be done, and the success depends to a large degree on the support from residents north and south of the border. And that the politicians get to know of the support.

OLDER NEWS:

• Response from lower BC has been superb. See "Letters" on Home Page.
• Cloverdale Reporter: B.C. allies back Blaine Amtrak station Article
  
• Vancouver Sun: Amtrak stop for Blaine stirs interest on both sides of the border Article
• News 1130: Potential Amtrak stop in Blaine touted Article
• Michele Brunoro of CTV interviews City Manager Gary Tomsic at the Blaine station on December 21st. Link
  
  
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Interview with Gordon Anthony

From 1949 to 1968, Gordon Anthony worked at the Blaine Depot, starting as a clerk at the "Railway Express" office on the north side of the building. Gordon celebrated his 81st birthday in June this year, and recalls with clarity how parcels and packages arriving by train from Canada would need to be inspected. He was responsible, among other duties, to open the packages for inspection by customs officials. Regular shipments were turkeys, not frozen, but on ice, destined for California.

The shipping agent was Carl Liebert, father of former council member John Liebert. Carl later broke away to start CF Liebert in Blaine. Also in the office was a bookkeeper.

The telegraph office was in the center of the depot and Border Brokerage was at the south end. During the first few years, the telegraph officer was still using morse to communicate. In those days Great Northern had three stops at Blaine per day, both ways. As Gordon recalls, only a handful of passengers would embark/disembark each time.

In 1951 Gordon was drafted in the Army and sent to Korea where he served with the Chemical Core in Pohang during the war. It was George Sanders that took over the duties during Gordon's 2 year absence. George's son, Steve started Sanders Brokerage Services in 2003.

After 1968 Gordon worked as a Stevedore in Bellingham and later as contractor/cost engineer at the refinery. In 1990 he retired and now enjoys a quiet life in Blaine, occasionally taking a bike ride to downtown. He would love to see the station operating again and take the familiar trip to Bow, WA, which he used to do once a week as part of his job with Railway Express.

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