Sounder commuter rail service remains reduced, but Sound Transit reported some improvement by Wednesday, with the restoration of full length Sounder trains.
Service reductions on Sounder first began on Thursday, February 13, following discovery that there had been a “maintenance lag” on equipment. Sound Transit had initially reported that Amtrak, which is responsible for maintaining Sounder vehicles, was in the process of ensuring inspection and preventative maintenance on various systems, including train doors and communications.
Sound Transit had to take 23 train cars out of service. As a result, Sounder had been operating service with shorter trains than normal for more than a week and suspended two roundtrips per day on both the Sounder S Line and N Line. While Sound Transit is yet to restore those trips, all trains are now offering five-car service on the S Line between Seattle and Tacoma/Lakewood and two-car service on the N Line between Seattle and Everett.
As Amtrak has ramped up maintenance efforts, at least 11 of 23 Sounder sidelined cars have been put back into service. Sound Transit had originally estimated maintenance work would take six weeks to complete, but it does appear that the pace of recommissioning vehicles for service could greatly shorten that timeframe. Both Sound Transit and Amtrak have stressed, however, that they don’t have a definite timeline for full restoration yet.
Sound Transit cited ridership patterns as the reason it has opted to restore longer trains rather than increasing trips as it brings more train cars into service.
“Our three-car and four-car trains currently lack the necessary capacity to accommodate our existing ridership,” agency spokesperson John Gallagher told The Urbanist. “Restoring five-car trains on the S line has been our top priority, as we are committed to providing our customers with a safe and comfortable travel experience. While three- and four-car trains are safe, they can become quite uncomfortable when at full capacity.”
Details still haven’t been provided on the full scope of the maintenance issue, but Amtrak said that the issue stemmed from a review of inspection records that found discrepancies. Despite the maintenance lag, Sound Transit has said that riders and Sounder personnel were never in present danger.
On Wednesday, Sound Transit reported that extra Amtrak maintenance staff have been brought in to address the backlog, including staff from as far away as Los Angeles. Amtrak has also put more maintenance bays into use in SoDo at its Lander Street base to expedite maintenance work.
“Amtrak is expediting inspections and maintenance of certain Sound Transit rail cars,” Olivia Irwin, a spokesperson for Amtrak, told The Urbanist. “We expect a sufficient number of cars to return to service over the coming weeks to permit normal service levels and train lengths.”
Amtrak has pledged an internal investigation and conveyed their apologies to riders.
“While reviewing inspection records, Amtrak personnel proactively identified an inspection data discrepancy that required a number of Sound Transit cars to be removed from service,” Irwin told The Urbanist. “We apologize to our partner and the customers impacted by these cancellations. An investigation is underway to determine the root cause and take appropriate action.”
Nevertheless, four daily weekday roundtrips remain canceled on the S and N Lines, with two roundtrip cancellations on each line. That makes for a bigger impact on the N Line since there are normally only four roundtrips — not counting Rail Plus access via Amtrak Cascades.
For now, riders may want to consider alternative transit service to supplement canceled Sounder trips or using Amtrak Cascades service. Under a temporary expansion of the Rail Plus program, ORCA card holders can access Cascades trains that share common stops on both Sounder corridors. That gives Sounder riders along both the S and N Lines access to Cascades trains with stops at Tacoma Dome and Tukwila, in addition to Everett, Edmonds, and King Street in Seattle. Riders opting for Cascades trips should refer to the current schedule.
“Passengers board from inside the station, not on the Sounder platform, and are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes early,” Irwin told The Urbanist. “Riders must show their ORCA card or ticket to the conductor as they board the train.” Riders may also want to check in with an Amtrak station agent prior to boarding a Cascades train.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.
