Sound Transit Central Link
Sound Transit Central Link is the light rail system in the Seattle area, owned by Sound Transit. Operations for the system are currently under contract to King County Metro. Central Link refers to the light rail system built in Seattle and its surrounding suburbs. A separate system, called the T Line, also uses Link branding, but is a separate streetcar line with different voltage and train types.
Route Details
Central Link currently has only one line, the 1 Line, which runs from Northgate Station at the north end, via University of Washington, Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, and Sea-Tac Airport to Angle Lake Station at the southern end.
Maintenance Bases
Trains are maintained at Operations and Maintenance Facilities (OMFs), with OMF Central being near the SODO Station and OMF East near Spring District Station. Currently, only OMF Central is used for active trains on the 1 Line, while OMF East is being used for storage and in the near future will be the base of operations on the 2 Line.
Stations
- Northgate Station
- Roosevelt Station
- U District Station
- University of Washington Station
- Capitol Hill Station
- Westlake Station
- University Street Station
- Pioneer Square Station
- International District / Chinatown Station.
- Stadium Station
- SODO Station
- Beacon Hill Station
- Mount Baker Station
- Columbia City Station
- Othello Station
- Rainier Beach Station
- Tukwila International Boulevard Station
- SeaTac / Airport Station
- Angle Lake Station
History
In November 1996, voters in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties approved increases in sales taxes and vehicle excise taxes to pay for a US$3.9 billion transit package that included $1.7 billion for a light rail system, including Central Link and Tacoma Link. The originally approved 21-mile Central Link line started at Sea-Tac Airport, traveling north to downtown Seattle, and finally terminating at the University of Washington.
In 2001, the planned line was shortened to 14 miles, planned to run only between downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport. The section from downtown to the University of Washington would still eventually be built but would open at a later date.
The initial section from Westlake Station to Tukwila International Blvd opened on July 18th, 2009. Because the SeaTac/Airport station was not yet finished, a shuttle bus operated by Pierce Transit took passengers from Tukwila International Blvd Station to Sea-Tac Airport. On December 19th, 2009, the extension to the SeaTac/Airport station opened, ending the shuttle bus service.
The ballot measure Sound Transit 2 passed in 2008 which approved extensions to Northgate by 2021, Bellevue by 2023 and Lynnwood by 2024. It also approved the extension to Angle Lake which would open in 2016.
The ballot measure Sound Transit 3 passed in 2016. It approved extensions to Federal Way, downtown Redmond, Issaquah, South Kirkland, Ballard, West Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma. These extensions are planned to open between 2024 and 2040.
- November 1996 - Voters approve 21-mile light rail system.
- 2001 - light rail line shortened to 14 due to cost.
- 2008 - Sound Transit 2 approved.
- July 18, 2009 - Service starts from Westlake Station to Tukwila International Boulevard Station.
- December 19, 2009 - Service starts from Tukwila International Boulevard Station to SeaTac / Airport Station.
- March 19, 2016 - University link extension opened for service. Added Capitol Hill Station and University of Washington Station.
- September 24, 2016 - Angle Lake Station opened for service.
- November 2016 - Sound Transit 3 approved.
- March 23, 2019 - End of joint bus/light rail operations in the Downtown Transit Tunnel.
- September 21, 2019 - Existing line between University of Washington Station to Angle Lake Station renamed Red Line.
- October 2, 2021 - Northgate extension opened, adding U District, Roosevelt and Northgate stations.
- October 2, 2021 - Red Line between Northgate and Angle Lake Station renamed 1 Line.
Future
Central Link light rail currently has extensions to Bellevue, Redmond, Lynnwood, Everett, Kirkland, Issaquah, Ballard, West Seattle, Federal Way, and Tacoma underway.
- April 27, 2024 - South Bellevue/Redmond Technology (2 Line)
- August 30, 2024 - Lynnwood
- 2025 - International District/Chinatown to South Bellevue
- 2025 - Downtown Redmond
- 2026 - Federal Way, OMF South
- 2032 - West Seattle
- 2035 - Tacoma
- 2039 - Ballard
- 2037-2041 - Everett, OMF North
- 2041 - South Kirkland, Issaquah
Future Lines
- 2 Line (Starter Line): South Bellevue - Downtown Bellevue - Redmond Technology
- 2 Line: Mariner - Ash Way - Lynnwood - Northgate - U District - Seattle - Bellevue - Redmond
- 3 Line: Everett - Lynnwood - Seattle - West Seattle
- 4 Line: South Kirkland - Bellevue - Eastgate - Issaquah
Vehicles
Central Link Fleet
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Motors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101-135 | 
|
2006-2008 | Kinkisharyo | LRV | Mitsui 1500V DC | |
| 136-162 | 
|
2011 | Kinkisharyo | LRV | Mitsui 1500V DC | |
| 201-352 | 
|
2019-2024 | Siemens | S700 |
|
Future Central Link Fleet
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Motors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 353-362 |
|
Siemens | S700 |
|
References
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