Sounder "Homerun" train will be ready for Sunday Mariners playoff game - if a fifth game is necessary

Just in case the Seattle Mariners don't sweep the New York Yankees for the American League pennant, Sound Transit's popular Sounder "Homerun" train will offer special service on Sunday for game five of the American League Championship Series at Safeco Field.

The Homerun train will leave Tacoma at 11 a.m. sharp from the temporary Sounder platform being used every weekday located two blocks north of the Tacoma Dome commuter parking garage - the train will not board or stop at the Amtrak station.

Thanks to regular Sounder service, Mariner fans can now get on board at the Sumner commuter rail station at 11:17 a.m. and the Auburn commuter rail station at 11:26 a.m. The Homerun train will arrive at Seattle's King Street station platform around noon, about an hour before the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. and the train departs at 5:30 p.m. sharp. Parking is free at Sounder commuter rail stations in Tacoma, Sumner and Auburn.

Regular commuter fares will be in effect. Adult round trip tickets are $8 from Tacoma and Sumner, $6 from Auburn; round trip tickets for youth 5-18 are $6 from Tacoma and Sumner, $4.50 from Auburn; seniors and people with disabilities round trip tickets are $4 from Tacoma and Sumner, $3 from Auburn; and children under 5 ride free.

Tickets are available this weekend at ticket vending machines located on the platforms at Auburn, Sumner and King Street stations, the Tacoma Dome parking garage and Sound Transit's Union station headquarters concourse. The Sumner machines accept cash only, and all other machines accept cash, MasterCard and Visa credit cards but not debit cards yet.

Sound Transit encourages fans to please buy tickets ahead of time or arrive early to purchase tickets. The eight-car trains have about 1,100 seats with standing capacity for hundreds more.

In just the first four weeks of service, Sounder has already provided more than 22,000 rush hour trips and ridership is growing steadily. The tri-level passenger cars feature comfortable seats, restrooms, cupholders, water fountains, work tables, protected outlets for computers and storage areas for bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers. The service is planned to expand in 2001/2002 south to Lakewood and north to Everett.

Sounder commuter rail is one part the voter-approved plan to bring Link light rail and ST Express bus service to King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. For more information on Sounder's special Mariners game service, please call Sound Transit at 1-800-201-4900 or check the Sound Transit Web site at www.sounder.org

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Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.