Sound Transit announces more Sounder service - including the first "reverse commute" - between Seattle and Tacoma

Sound Transit, working closely with its partner BNSF Railway Company, will add in September 2007 two additional Sounder trains between Seattle and Tacoma. In addition to another peak direction option Sound Transit will add, for the first time, a "reverse commute" with a morning train from Seattle's King Street Station and a return afternoon trip from Tacoma Dome Station.

"This is an important step in the evolution of our regional transit system," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "Not only are we adding a fifth round-trip train to our popular Tacoma-Seattle commute; for the first time, people - especially those in South King County - who work or go to school in Tacoma will have the option of riding a Sounder train instead of sitting in traffic." 

"It is important to add," said Ladenburg, "how the hard work and cooperation from the folks at BNSF helped bring this new service on-line ahead of their contracted schedule. We couldn't do this without their willingness to be flexible."

"We recognize the need for additional transit options for Puget Sound commuters and we're pleased to accommodate this added Sounder service," said BNSF's DJ Mitchell, Assistant Vice President, Passenger Operations. "We look forward to continuing this partnership in the future."

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