Seattle, in the King County, is the most populous city of the Washington State with 670,000 inhabitants. It’s an important transportation hub due to its geographical location and its more than 5,000 kms of railways.
The Seattle and Tacoma light rails are tramway system circulating in the city on an exclusive preferential platform and rails, separated from automobile traffic. They are managed by the Sound Transit that operates buses, trains and light rail services throughout the region and is responsible for ongoing projects, expansion and support of any service to the region. In turn receives financial and technical assistance from the Federal Transit Administration FTA, a federal agency of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT).
Lines and stations
The light rail system comprises the Sound Transit Tacoma Link line of 2.6 km length, and the Seattle line with 23.5 kms kilometers linking the city with the di Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, called Central Link.
Central Link
Opened in 2009, this line runs from north to south, from Westlake in the downtown area to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The route is 25 kms in length, of which 1 km passes through a tunnel which slides Seattle downtown, that is the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel or Metro Bus Tunnel.
In the tunnel, there are five metro rail stations: Convention Place, Westlake, University Street, Pioneer Square, International District / Chinatown. This stretch of the line is crossed in 7 minutes. The whole line is crossed in 38 minutes.
North of Westlake is constructing an underground extension of 5 km to the campus of the Washington University to be finished in 2016. The line will be completed towards the north at Northgate in 2021. At the southern end of the line is rising a 2.5. km high extension from the airport to the Federal Way Transit Center, to be inaugurated in 2016, like the extension of the University.
Tacoma Link
This line was opened in August 2003. It circulates on a single track and is 2.6 km long. Circulates through five stations: Tacoma Dome, South 25th, Union Station, Convention Center, Commerce Street and Theater District. So this line connects the multimodal Tacoma Dome Station with the city center and various attractions for the traveler, as the campus of the Washington University, the new convention center and several theaters. The entire tour can be done in 10 minutes.
Sound Transit, regarding a possible extension of the line to the north from the Theater District Station Sound, it is considering some projects and budgets.
Schedule and Frequencies.
Central Link
Trains get about 36 minutes to make the whole journey at a speed of 25km per hour.
Weekdays: The first train of the day depart at 5:40 am from Seattle-Tacoma Airport and the last at 0:40 am. Saturday: 5:04 a.m. and 4:57 a.m. Sunday: 6:04 a.m. and 11:40 pm respectively.
From Westlake, downtown, the first train departs at 4:57 am and the last at 0:42 am. Saturday: 5:04 a.m. to 0.40 pm Sundays 6:04 am and 11:40 pm
Frequency
Weekdays:
- 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. every 15 minutes
- 6:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. every 6 minutes
- 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. every 10 minutes
- 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. every 6 minutes
- 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. every 10 minutes
- 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. every 15 minutes
Saturdays and Sundays:
- 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. / Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. every 15 minutes
- 8:00 am – 10:00 pm every 10 minutes
- 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. every 15 minutes
Tacoma Link
Weekdays: The first train from Tacoma Dome Station depart at 5:00 am, the last at 10 pm. Saturdays: the first is at 7:48 am, the last at 10:00 pm. Sundays: 9:48 am and 5:48 pm.
Weekdays from Theater District: the first train depart at 5:00 am, the last at 10:00 pm. Saturday, the first is at 7:48 am, the last at 10:00 pm. Sundays 9:48 am and 5:48 pm
Frequency
Days of the week
- 5:00 a.m. – 6:36 a.m. every 24 minutes
- 6:36 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. every 12 minutes
- 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. every 24 minutes
Saturday: 7:48 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. every 12 minutes
Sunday:9:48 a.m. – 5:48 p.m. every 24 minutes
Tickets and fares.
Central Link
- A single ticket for adults is 2.25 / 2.50 / 3.00 depending on the distance. They must be purchased before boarding.
- There are day passes for the cost of two one-way tickets. They are valid for the date printed on the ticket stations.
- Ages 6 to 18 have a reduced rate of 1.50. Less than five years, accompanied by a passenger travel free.
- Those over 65 and disabled can travel at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (Regional Reduced Fare Permit- RRFP). The flat rate is 1.00.
- Tickets are obtained from the vending machines at the stations. Accept cash and/or credit cards.
- ORCA card. It is a rechargeable card aime for travel on public transport managed by the Sound Transit. It costs 5.00. It can be purchased online or at automatic ticket vending machines. http//www.orcacard.com
Tacoma Link
Tacoma Link is offering the service at no cost to the passenger since its inception. This was because the initial quantity of commuters didn’t even cover operating costs. However, it turns out that in 2013 the line reached one million passengers. So the authorities have determined to set fares since September 2016. The adult is 1.50, youth, the elderlies and the disabled will pay 0.75.
