Regional trains, like this Westside Express Service train operating between Beaverton and Wilsonville, are now part of Portland's present, carrying passengers around the Portland metropolitan area and helping remove traffic from the region's congested highway network.

They represent what could become a comprehensive commuter rail network. Local government agencies and transit advocacy organizations are already at work promoting various routes both into the downtown core and around the metro periphery.

These routes include:

Beaverton-Wilsonville: This route is now in service as Westside Express Service or WES. It uses the former SP Tillamook Branch, now operated by the Portland & Western, from Beaverton to Tigard, then the former Burlington Northern (Oregon Electric), now-P&W line to Wilsonville. Intermediate stops are at Hall-Nimbus (Washington Square), Tigard and Tualatin.

Portland-McMinnville: This route would use the former Southern Pacific, now Union Pacific, Portland-Eugene main line from Portland to Willsburg Junction, then the former SP, now-Portland & Western West Side Line to McMinnville. Intermediate stops could include southeast Portland, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Lake Grove, Tualatin, Sherwood, Newberg and Lafayette. This service would help reduce congestion on adjacent Ore. Hwy. 99W.

A variation to this proposal would have the service run up the west side of the Willamette River, using the former Southern Pacific Jefferson Street Branch, currently the route of the seasonal Willamette Shore Trolley. This line was part of the SP Red Electric interurban system from 1915 to 1929, and carried up to 16 daily round trips between Portland and Lake Oswego.

Beaverton-Milwaukie: This route would use the existing WES route from Beaverton to Tigard and former SP Tillamook Branch and West Side Line, now-P&W, from Tigard to Milwaukie. Intermediate stops could include Hall-Nimbus, Tigard, Lake Grove and Lake Oswego. This service could complement or serve as a future extension of the Milwaukie-Lake Oswego shuttle.

Portland-Wilsonville: This service would use the same route as the proposed McMinnville service as far as Tualatin, then follow a new connection onto the WES line south to Wilsonville. Intermediate stops could include southeast Portland, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Lake Grove and Tualatin.  This route would help reduce congestion on adjacent Ore. Hwy. 99W and Interstate 5.         

Portland-Canby: This route would use the former SP main line from Portland south to Canby. Intermediate stops could include southeast Portland, Milwaukie, Clackamas and Oregon City.  This route would help reduce congestion on adjacent Ore. Hwy. 99E and Interstate 205. A future extension of this route could reach south to Woodburn. This line is part of Amtrak's Pacific Northwest corridor.

Portland-Troutdale: This route would use the UP line through northeast Portland east to Troutdale. Intermediate stops could include northeast Portland, Gresham, Fairview and Wood Village. This route would help reduce congestion on adjacent Interstate 84.

Portland-Washougal: This route would use the BNSF Portland-Seattle main line north to Vancouver, Wash., then east along the BNSF Vancouver-Spokane main line to Washougal. Intermediate stops could include northwest/north Portland, Vancouver, east Vancouver and Camas.  This route would help reduce congestion on adjacent Interstate 5 and Wash. Hwy. 14. The segment between Portland and Vancouver is part of Amtrak's Pacific Northwest Corridor.

Service on these routes would run primarily during the morning and evening rush hours Monday-Friday; midday and weekend services could also operate. Equipment could include diesel multiple-unit railcars such as the DMUs and RDCs in WES service, or locomotive-hauled, push-pull trains using single-level or multilevel coaches.