Twenty-five years ago, Sounder commuter rail began service with just four stations: Seattle’s King Street Station, Auburn, Sumner (with only half its platform ready), and a temporary Tacoma stop near the old Amtrak station on Puyallup Avenue.
When Sounder launched in September 2000, DVDs were replacing VHS tapes, and MP3 players were just starting to hit the market. Moviegoers were cheering on "Bring It On" in theaters. Pop charts were full of hits from Destiny’s Child, NSYNC, Eminem, Christina Aguilera, Santana, Faith Hill, and Linkin Park.
Fast forward 25 years, and Sounder now serves 12 stations across the N Line and S Line, connecting thousands of riders each weekday. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, we’ve rounded up 25 fun facts you may not know about Sounder:
1. Opening Day
Sounder’s first official day of service was Sept. 18, 2000, with King Street, Auburn, Sumner, and Tacoma stations in operation.
2. First Trips = Only Two
For the first two years, Sounder ran just two round trips per weekday.
3. Mariners Came First
Sounder actually ran trains before daily service began — carrying fans to Mariners games in April 2000.
4. Tiny Sumner Platform
On opening day, Sumner’s station had only 300 feet of platform and limited parking.
5. Temporary Tacoma
The original Tacoma stop wasn’t at Freighthouse Square — it was a temporary platform off Puyallup Avenue near the BNSF tracks.
6. First Year Boardings
Sounder carried 25,742 passenger boardings in its first full year.
7. N Line Debut
The N Line launched on December 21, 2003 with a special Seahawks game train. Regular commuter service on the N Line began December 22, 2003.
8. Mukilteo Joins Later
Mukilteo Station opened on May 31, 2008, adding a third stop to the N Line. A second platform and pedestrian bridge at Mukilteo opened on April 11, 2016.
9. Lakewood-to-Tacoma
Service expanded south in October 2012, connecting Lakewood to Tacoma Dome Station.
10. Today’s Network
Sounder now covers 82.9 miles of track — 48.7 miles on the S Line and 34.2 miles on the N Line.
11. 1 Million Riders
Sounder reached its 1 millionth rider in 2004, just four years after opening.
12. King Street Rules
The busiest weekday boarding station is Seattle’s King Street Station, followed by Kent and Puyallup.
13. Maximum Speed
Sounder trains can reach 79 miles per hour.
14. Heavy Hardware
A full 7-car trainset with locomotive weighs about 600 tons. Each locomotive weighs about 285,000 pounds, while each passenger car weighs around 120,000 pounds.
15. Push-Pull Power
Sounder trains don’t “turn around” in Tacoma — they’re push-pull trains with a locomotive on one end and a cab car on the other.
16. Two Crew Members
Just two people — an engineer and a conductor — operate each train.
17. Scenic Views
On the N Line, riders get stunning views of Puget Sound, often with eagles, ospreys, or seals spotted along the way. On clear days, S Line riders enjoy postcard views of Mount Rainier.
18. Point Defiance Bypass
In 2017, S Line service shifted to the Point Defiance Bypass, making trips into Tacoma faster and more direct.
19. Bi-Level Cars
Sounder uses double-deck passenger cars, giving upstairs riders the best seats in the house.
20. Long Platforms
Tacoma Dome Station features one of the longest platforms in the system.
21. Game Day Tradition
Sounder has carried tens of thousands of fans to Seahawks, Sounders FC, and Mariners games.
22. Line Names
In 2020, Sounder officially became the N Line and S Line, joining Sound Transit’s systemwide naming convention.
23. APTA 2001
Sound Transit hosted the APTA Commuter Rail Conference in Seattle from March 31 to April 4, 2001.
24. Future at 50
Sound Transit is planning for longer trains, more trips, and expanded stations — setting Sounder up for another 25 years of growth.
25. ST Shop
We launched a limited-edition Sounder 25 collection at the Sound Transit Shop — perfect for riders and rail fans who want to celebrate in style.
Whether you’ve been riding since that tiny Sumner platform or just hopped aboard recently, thank you for being part of Sounder’s first 25 years. Here’s to the next 25!