Legislators in Washington state have committed new money to further the dream of a high speed rail link connecting Vancouver, Seattle and Portland.

For nearly a decade, politicians, business leaders and residents have made pitches, conducted studies and campaigned to have a line that would efficiently connect the cities up and down the Cascadia coasts of B.C., Washington State and Oregon.

Having high speed trains capable of running up to 400 kilometres an hour would reduce travel times for travellers, ease congestion and