Sound Transit T Line

System

Link Light Rail

Type

Streetcar

Number of stations

12

Cities serviced

Tacoma

Termini

St. Joseph Station
Tacoma Dome

Operations

Opened

August 22, 2003

Owner

Sound Transit
(1999–present)

Operator

Sound Transit

Daily Ridership

1,187 (2020)

Technical

Line length

1.6 mi (2.6 km)

Track gauge

1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

Electrification

750V DC Overhead

Operating speed

40 km/h (25 mph)

Line Diagram

The T Line is a Link Light Rail streetcar line in Tacoma, WA. It is the only Sound Transit service whose operations are not contracted to another agency, instead being directly operated and maintained by Sound Transit employees. The T Line was free to ride until the Hilltop Extension opened in 2023, and now has a $2 adult fare.

Route details

This line travels solely in Tacoma between Tacoma Dome Station and Theater District Station.

Stations

Stations are listed in order, traveling south to north.

Service Frequency

	Frequency
Peak Hours	12 mins.
Midday	12 mins.
Evening	12 mins.
Late Night	24 mins.
Early Mornings	24 mins.
Saturday (All Day)	12 mins.
Sundays/Holidays	24 mins.

First and Last Trains

Southbound Service

Theater District to Tacoma Dome
	First Train	Last Train
Weekdays	5:12 a.m.	10:12 p.m.
Saturdays	8:00 a.m.	10:12 p.m.
Sundays/Holidays	10:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.

Northbound Service

Tacoma Dome to Theater District
	First Train	Last Train
Weekdays	5:00 a.m.	10:00 p.m.
Saturdays	7:48 a.m.	10:00 p.m.
Sundays/Holidays	9:48 a.m.	5:48 p.m.

Future Plans

Extension to St. Joseph

Extension to TCC

Tacoma Link currently has a planned extension to Tacoma Community College. The extension will open in two phases: the first phase, to St. Joseph Station in the Hilltop district, opened in 2023, while the extension along S 19th Street to Tacoma Community College is projected to open in 2041.

Future Stations

History

November 1996 - Funding approved for Tacoma Link line
February 2, 1998 - Shuttle bus service starts between Tacoma Dome Station and Downtown Tacoma
August 2000 - Construction on Tacoma Link begins
September 2002 - Rolling stock delivered
June 18, 2003 - Testing begins on new line
August 22, 2003 - Service starts on Tacoma Link, Washington State's first light rail line
2008 - Hilltop extension approved by voters as part of Sound Transit 2
September 15, 2011 - Commerce Street Station opens as an infill station, frequencies reduced from every 10 minutes to every 12 minutes due to increased travel times
2016 - TCC extension approved by voters as part of Sound Transit 3
November 2018 - Hilltop extension construction begins
September 21, 2019 - Tacoma Link renamed Orange Line.
October 2, 2021 - Orange Line renamed T Line
September 16, 2023 - Hilltop extension to St. Joseph opens. Original Theater District station is closed and Commerce Street Station is renamed to Theater District.

Vehicles

The rail cars are stored in a maintenance site near Tacoma Dome Station. The route uses Skoda 10 T numbered 1001-1003 and Brookville Liberty NXT numbered 2001-2005, which were purchased for the Hilltop extension.