Sounder gets its first big test with the Monday commute

Carting a train full of charged up football fans to Seahawks Stadium on Sunday will be fun, but it’s Monday when Sound Transit’s commuter rail service in Snohomish County will really get its start.

For now, Snohomish County will get one train to Seattle and one train back every weekday, starting Monday. Estimates are that a second daily round trip will start in December 2004, and that third and fourth daily round trips will start service by December 2007.

The trains will run weekdays and for some Seahawks and Mariners games. Other than this weekend’s Seahawks’ game, the days the sports trains will run have not been announced.

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Tickets from Everett or Edmonds to Seattle are $3 for adults, $2.25 for kids 6 to 18, and $1 for seniors or disabled riders. Monthly passes will cost adults $108; kids $81; and $54 for seniors or the disabled. Call 800-889-6368 for more information.

Riding the train to Seattle will take 59 minutes from Everett; 33 minutes from Edmonds. On the way back, service to Edmonds will take 27 minutes; to Everett, 59 minutes.

The Sounder will leave Everett Station at 6:55 a.m., stop in Edmonds at 7:21 a.m. and arrive at King Street Station in Seattle at 7:54 a.m. It will leave Seattle at 5:15 p.m., stop at Edmonds at 5:42 p.m. and arrive at Everett Station at 6:14 p.m.

Taking the train to work and back will be free through Jan. 2 so potential riders can get a feel for how riding Sounder will work for them.

Each five-car train can carry 700 people. Two more cars can be added.

Taxpayers will pay $385 million to bring on the Sounder commuter rail service, $258 million of which will be paid to Burlington Northern Santa Fe for permanent access to the company’s tracks.

Source: Sound Transit