Sound Transit to Test “Inverted Peak” Trains Wednesday: More 3 Car Trains

"Inverted Peak Schedule" tomorrow. All-day trains will have three cars, peak trippers will have two cars. pic.twitter.com/EoS0sjWGjs

- Light Rail Operator (@EBoperator) September 20, 2016

In preparation for 'mega-event' service expected to be needed on Friday, September 30th - when both UW football and Mariner baseball converge on a weekday afternoon peak - tomorrow (Wednesday) Sound Transit will test 'inverted peak' service for the first time. With Friday typically being the highest ridership day of the week and Angle Lake newly open to suburban sports fans, September 30th could be a record-breaking day for Link.

A typical weekday sees a base of 2-car trains supplemented during peak by 3-car trains. Wednesday's service level will invert that, with a base of 3-car trains supplemented during peak by 2-car trains. That's an 8% boost in capacity for the same service frequency. Sound Transit's Bruce Gray said that an additional two trains will be held in reserve to clear crowds if necessary.

Tomorrow is a good test run because a Wednesday Mariners matinee against Toronto will end around the beginning of the evening commute (with lots of Canadians making the trek down boosting attendance further). It's also a good test for mid-day Sounder, with the new 10:18-11:31am train available for Mariners fans, with the regular choice of weekday evening trains home.

Enjoy the extra capacity tomorrow.