Ride the Sounder train to Sunday Mariners games

South Sound Mariners fans are invited to leave the hassle of driving behind and ride the rails to selected Sunday afternoon Mariners games beginning April 23. On that day Sound Transit's new Sounder train will depart from Tacoma's Amtrak station at 11:30 a.m. for a smooth ride to Seattle's King Street Station, just a quick walk from Safeco Field. Estimated travel time is less than an hour nonstop from Tacoma to Seattle. The Mariner Moose will be on hand to meet and greet fans as they arrive at the King Street Station. Riders will watch the Mariners play the Kansas City Royals at 1:35 p.m., then catch Sounder back to Tacoma at 5:30 p.m. Parking in Tacoma is available at the Tacoma Dome Station. Sound Transit is offering Sounder train rides to the May 7 and May 21 Mariners games as well.

Round trip tickets are $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniors and persons with disabilities. Kids aged 12 and under ride free. Tickets for Sounder rides can be purchased the week prior to the games at Pierce Transit's Bus Shop locations. Ticket quantities are limited. Some tickets will held for sale on the day of the event at the Tacoma Dome station starting at 9 a.m.

Hours for ticket sales are as follows:

Tacoma Dome Station: M-F, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Bus Shop: M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lakewood Bus Shop: M-F, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m; Sat.10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sounder trains will begin providing regular rush hour commuter service between Tacoma and Seattle this fall. The two-level passenger cars feature comfortable seats, restrooms, cupholders, work tables, protected outlets for laptop computers, and storage areas for bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers. Construction has already begun on some of the commuter rail stations, which will be located in Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, and Tukwila. The service is planned to expand in 2001 south to Lakewood, and north to Everett.

Sounder commuter rail is one part of Sound Move, 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 website at http://www.sounder.org/meetevnt/mariners.htm

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