Tacoma to Seattle - Lightrail/Sounder (Tukwila, Burlington: lease, live in, costs)

[frostyrides]

I know the lightrail topics been brought up more than a few times, however there still seems to be some confusion here.

I have some relatives that want to visit Seattle on Saturday for a day trip, but they don't want to drive into Seattle and mess with traffic and parking. So what would be the most effective way to get from the Tacoma Dome to Pike Place Market, visit attractions throughout the city of Seattle, then get to Pier 52 to take the ferry to Bainbridge? Any idea on price per person for a all day/round trip pass to ride for mass transit and is it seperate between the Sounder, Lightrail, and buses?

Sound Transit: Ride the Wave doesn't seem to provide very clear information or at lease not compared to riding the MAX lightrail in Portland.

Thanks in advanced.

[Ira500]

The Sounder Train doesn't run on Saturday, but Sound Transit does have the 594 express bus to downtown Seattle from the Tacoma dome. Takes about 45 minutes and I think it costs three dollars.

[frostyrides]

Thanks for the info. Looks like the best thing is to drive up to the Tukwila International Blvd Station and ride the light rail into Seattle from there.

[LongDawson]

Originally Posted by frostyrides

Thanks for the info. Looks like the best thing is to drive up to the Tukwila International Blvd Station and ride the light rail into Seattle from there.

Good idea. I've done this with my family too--park at the Tukwila train station and ride straight to downtown without worrying about Seattle parking.

The station in Tukwila seems to have the new American "Orwellian surveillance" and military police security. So let them protect my car while I park there for free all day, one small benefit of this new atmosphere we live in.

The ride to Seattle is very inexpensive too, using that train. And for some reason, there is a bright thing about this train. I've noticed complete strangers actually engage in conversation while aboard. Something I don't think ever existed in Seattle.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Ira500

The Sounder Train doesn't run on Saturday, but Sound Transit does have the 594 express bus to downtown Seattle from the Tacoma dome. Takes about 45 minutes and I think it costs three dollars.

Why doesn't the Sounder Train run on Saturday?

[Radnor]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Why doesn't the Sounder Train run on Saturday?

It's a weekday commuter train, so I'm guessing there aren't enough people to bother running it on Saturday and Sunday. It will run on the weekend for special events such as Seahawks games though.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Radnor

It's a weekday commuter train, so I'm guessing there aren't enough people to bother running it on Saturday and Sunday. It will run on the weekend for special events such as Seahawks games though.

Still, for the persons who happen to be out on Saturday and Sunday, it would be helpful. Sound Transit is getting more done for how long it has existed. Still, there is more work to be done.

[sean98125]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Why doesn't the Sounder Train run on Saturday?

The Sounder train runs on tracks that are owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe. They aren't a public right-of-way like a freeway or a road. The tracks are private property. They lease the track times from BNSF for the commuter runs during the week. There just aren't that many people going from Tacoma to Seattle on the weekends to justify the high cost of subsidizing heavy rail. They do run trains during sporting events in Seattle.

The rail lines that the commuter trains run on are a fairly heavily used freight corridor.

As Ira pointed out, Sound Transit still runs buses on Saturday that'll get you from Tacoma to Seattle.

[TheTravellers]

Originally Posted by sean98125

The Sounder train runs on tracks that are owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe. They aren't a public right-of-way like a freeway or a road. The tracks are private property. They lease the track times from BNSF for the commuter runs during the week. There just aren't that many people going from Tacoma to Seattle on the weekends to justify the high cost of subsidizing heavy rail. They do run trains during sporting events in Seattle.

The rail lines that the commuter trains run on are a fairly heavily used freight corridor.

As Ira pointed out, Sound Transit still runs buses on Saturday that'll get you from Tacoma to Seattle.

People from the Tacoma area would go to Seattle on the weekends if there were train service. It would boost Seattle businesses.

[Ira500]

I'd go to Tacoma on weekends if there was train service.