EVERETT – Riders on Sound Transit’s Sounder Commuter Rail service will have more flexibility and more options with a new schedule that takes effect today.
For Everett commuters, the new morning schedule means the Seattle-bound train will leave 15 minutes earlier at 6:40 a.m., as opposed to 6:55 a.m. The train arrives in Edmonds at 7:06 a.m. and in Seattle at 7:39 a.m.
The evening train will depart at 5:13 p.m., two minutes earlier.
“We listened to our customers,” said Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg and Sound Transit board chairman.
“They told us they wanted expanded departure times on the Seattle-Tacoma line and an earlier morning departure from Everett,” Ladenburg said. “We’ve been able to work with our partner, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, to improve the schedule at both ends of the line.”
The earlier morning departure from Everett will make it easier for commuters to be at work by 8 a.m.
Sound Transit also adjusted the evening northbound train so commuters to Edmonds can connect with ferry service there.
“This is the next step toward expanding ridership on the Seattle-Everett line,” said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl. “Our customers told us from the beginning that we’d see more riders if we could get them to Seattle in time for an 8 o’clock start at work.”
Throughout its north and south corridors, Sound Transit is making major investments to improve track signals, stations and grade crossings. The completion of the track and signal improvements in the south corridor opened the way for today’s expanded service window.
These investments are improving the region’s transportation infrastructure and increasing the speed and reliability of Sounder, Amtrak and freight trains.
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