Signs for two-car Link trains return to Seattle

This week, sharp-eyed Link riders (including STB's Michael Smith and Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck) noticed new signposts installed on Link stations platforms across Seattle. The signposts are located along the textured safety tiles at the edge of station platforms near the first between-car barrier, and apparently-finished signposts feature an orange flag with a 2". Although the purpose of these signs has not been officially announced, it appears Sound Transit is quietly preparing for the return of two-car Link trains to stations in Seattle, a sight not seen regularly on the 1 Line since early 2020.

An two-car train stop marker installed at CID Station. (Michael Smith)

Although the 1 Line has enjoyed four-car trains since the opening of Northgate Link in 2021, the 2 Line has operated with two-car trains since its opening in 2024. On March 28, the 2 Line will officially extend to Lynnwood via Seattle, effectively doubling train frequencies between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown Stations. However, the additional trains may be shorter than some riders are used to.

A two-car train on the 2 Line stopped mid-platform at South Bellevue Station in 2024. (Nathan Dickey)

Riders of the former Central Link (now the 1 Line) will remember the line routinely ran two-car trains from its opening in 2009 until the late 2010s. Sound Transit originally planned to provide 4-car trains every 8 minutes at peak periods when it opened the 2 Line through Seattle, but we know now that operations will be limited to a mix of three- and four-car operations once the 2 Line starts running through Seattle. However, with the return of two-car train stopping markers at all stations (including those which will not be served by the 2 Line), it appears the agency is preparing for potential runs of two-car trains on both the 1 and 2 Lines west of Lake Washington.

An unfinished two-car train stopping marker seen at Columbia City Station indicates two-car trains may return to the 1 Line. (Michael Smith)

It's unclear how long two-car trains might be operating in Seattle. Although the mid-platform stop markers for two-car trains at stations along the 2 Line match Sound Transit's standard design for Link Train Stopping Markers", the signposts seen being installed in Seattle appear much less robust. The posts even feature a warning sticker saying Do Not Lean", apparently indicating an inability to hold up to much abuse. Hopefully the non-standard design reflects an expectation that two-car operations on the 1 Line will soon become obsolete (again).

The non-standard train stopping markers newly installed at 1 Line stations in Seattle may be temporary, unless Sound Transit replaces them with the standard design. (Michael Smith)Fleet Limits

The Link light rail vehicle (LRV) fleet currently consists of 62 Series1" LRVs built by Kinkisharyo and (as of this month) 152 Series 2" LRVs built by Siemens, totaling 214 LRVs. In 2023, Sound Transit staff identified multiple operational issues reducing LRV efficiency, meaning the agency will need more Link cars than expected to provide planned peak service levels of four-car trains every eight minutes on both the 1 and 2 Lines. These issues included trains running slower than planned on some Link segments, unexpectedly high train maintenance needs, and recognition that the agency needed to retain more spare trains to respond to service disruptions.

In September 2023, staff predicted peak service in 2026 would be limited to a mix of three- and four-car trains every 8-10 minutes on the 1 and 2 Lines. (Sound Transit)

The reduced train efficiency meant that Sound Transit would not be able to deliver planned service on the 1 and 2 Lines including four-car trains every 8 minutes at peak hours unless it could figure out how to bring more LRVs into service. Despite a maximum storage capacity of exactly 200 LRVs between the operations and maintenance facilities in SODO and Bellevue, agency staff recommended buying 10 more Series 2 LRVs from Siemens. This would boost the fleet to 224 LRVs, but staff would need to find overnight parking for the 24 cars not able to fit into Link's two storage yards. In 2024, Sound Transit staff came up with a plan allowing temporary overnight storage of 32 LRVs at various stations along the 1 Line, and the Sound Transit Board ordered 10 more LRVs from Siemens with delivery expected by 2028.

Purchasing 10 additional LRVs would allow the 1 and 2 Lines to operate every 8-10 minutes at peak with mixed three- to four-car trains. (Sound Transit)

With 10 more LRVs bringing the fleet to 224 cars and full access to both maintenance facilities, the 1 and 2 Lines could have peak operations including a mix of three- and four-car trains running every 8 minutes. Staff hopes this will provide sufficient capacity between Lynnwood and Seattle while maintaining service levels south of Seattle.

In July 2023, staff predicted a need for 258 LRVs to meet operational needs in 2026. (Sound Transit)

Agency staff predict that more than 250 LRVs would be needed to reliably provide four-car trains every 8 minutes on both lines after the current Link expansion projects finish this year. That additional capacity will only come with the opening of additional maintenance facilities approved under ST3: OMF-North near Everett, and OMF-South in Federal Way. As the Sound Transit Board grapples with the agency's massive long-term financial shortfall, it's unclear if the agency can afford to open these facilities as scheduled.

Refurbished Kinkisharyo LRVs

Some readers may be wondering about the longevity of the Series 1 LRVs built by Kinkisharyo, and might recall those trains lacked many of the modern features enjoyed by riders of the Series 2 trains. Although these trains are expected to be retired once the Series 3" LRVs assumed under ST3 start coming into service, 60 of the 62 LRVs have been quietly refurbished and upgraded since 2022 in preparation for a return to full-time service. The final two LRVs are expected to have their upgrades finished later this year.

The primary upgrades to the Series 1 LRVs include replacement of the passenger information screens with color displays matching the Series 2 LRVs, and installation of train communications systems compatible with the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) systems installed across the rest of the Link system.

With Sound Transit needing every train it can get for the foreseeable future, this refurbishment will have come right on time.