Sounder: Seattle's Efficient Commuter Rail Line!

Hello and welcome to Seattle’s King Street Station! Today we’re taking a ride down to Tukwila with Sounder, Seattle’s Commuter rail line.
Trip Information
Train: Sounder S-Line 1505
Locomotive: EMD F59PHI 911
Consist: 5 Bombardier Bi-Level Coaches
Departure Time: 7:55 am
Arrival Time: 8:07 am
Journey Time: 0 hr 12 min
Ticket Price: $3.75
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First Class:
Jonas Jonson
Caleb
Joshua Bedel
Eli Taubman
Devin Clancy
Kevin Lippes
Arlington Public Transit
Cameron Buongiorno
Sol Miranda Weiner
Wayno Guerrini
Alexander Aznavoorian
Zukesers
JC The Beard
Jake Glehorn
Burton
Jason D.
Christopher Style
AcelaRailfan2150
Business Class:
James Schock
Lucas Ohlig
Coach Class:
Marlo Fairhurst
Arthur Sievers
Stephen Keever
Sam Jennings
Michael Cronin
Claudio Bickle
MattySlav
Michelle Gruben
Jesse Becker
Kara
Jeffery Leach
lebjohnson
Chapters
0:00 Hello and welcome to Seattle’s King Street Station!
0:34 Sounder's Dedicated Platform
0:56 The New Cab Cars
1:24 Ticketing
1:53 Sounder's Beautiful Livery
2:11 Our Locomotive: EMD F59PHI 911
2:39 Amtrak Cascades 516
3:10 Seating on Sounder
4:51 Our Route to Tukwila
5:23 Cascades 516 Departs
5:41 Train 1505 Heads South
5:53 Amtrak-Sounder Maintenance Facility
6:23 Subscribe! And Thanks to my Patrons and Members!
6:47 Boeing Field and the Boeing 777X
7:08 The Lower Level
7:27 Bathrooms on Sounder
8:12 Arrival in Tukwila
8:28 Train 1505 Departs for Lakewood
8:56 Tukwila Station
9:22 A BNSF Manifest Flies Past
10:42 Next Week: Brightline Miami to Orlando in Premium Class
10:56 Subscribe! And Feel Free to Check out the Patreon!
11:15 Thanks for Watching!
Equipment:
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro Max
Gimbal: DJI OM5
Camera: GoPro Hero 9 Black
Camera: Sony AX-43
Mic: Rode Videomic Pro+
Tripod: Coman DF06 + Manfrotto 502 Head
#Sounder #SoundTransit #CommuterRail
SEO:

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Man, I love the Sound Transit livery so much, up there with the New Mexico Rail Runner and the palm tree version of the Tri-Rail livery (a love letter to Florida). The earliest people to live around Seattle and Tukwila were the Duwamish, who made their homes along the Black and Duwamish rivers. They named the area Tukwila which is the Chinook Jargon word for "nut" or "hazelnut", referring to the hazelnut trees that grew in the area. The first settler in Tukwila was Joseph Foster in 1853, a Canadian pioneer who had traveled to the Pacific Northwest from Wisconsin. Foster would become known as the Father of Tukwila and represented King County in the then Washington Territorial Assembly for 22 years. The Puget Sound Shore Railroad, a branch of the Northern Pacific Railway, built the first railroad between Seattle and Tacoma in 1884, traveling through modern-day Tukwila on the current BNSF Seattle Subdivision. The station sits on the site of the Longacres horse racetrack which was built in 1933. The 215-acre racetrack site was targeted for redevelopment into offices by the City of Renton in the 1980s and acquired by the Boeing Company in 1990. Horse racing at Longacres ended in 1992 and construction of Boeing's Commercial Airplane Group headquarters began on the site in 1997. 13.8 acres would later be purchased by Sound Transit from Boeing for the station.

[@AndreiTupolev]

$3.75 for 11 miles is a little steep? Gosh, it'd be at least £10 for a similar distance in the UK

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

Well for all the faults of public transit in the US, at least the fares are a lot cheaper than the UK

[@July1st1867]

Being from Toronto, It's pretty damn good. Just to tap onto the GO Train will cost you $3.70 if you have presto then pay more when you get off. But if your willing to use the City Bus you can do the same trip for $3.30

[@dante6563]

I thought the same thing. On the LIRR for the same distance it’s much more money.

[@bluuryan]

10 dollars in Montréal 😂

[@marcinklimas2670]

7 PLN is ok, like in Warsaw😊

[@SounderBruce]

Sounder is not a line, it's a network of two lines. The South Line is very different from the North Line, which does not have reverse trips, runs along the coastline on Puget Sound, and intersects two ferry routes.

[@zeruty]

I just learned monthly pass riders of sounder North can ride a few Amtrak buses for free, giving a reverse trip option

[@WBTravels]

Agh ride the N line it is by far the most scenic railway in the country. Welcome to seattle glad you got to ride sounder

[@deanchapman1824]

Metro North Hudson and Harlem lines incredibly scenic. Particularly the Hudson line.

[@isocarboxazid]

⁠ain't nothing as beautiful as Puget Sound in that part of the country. Simply not in the same league.

[@DanielDavis1973]

2:05 take the north line to Everett. The tracks are literally feet from the edge of the sound at the base of the cliffs for at least half of the length. If you do, pick an upper level seat on the side of the car next to the platform as that side will hug the water.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Sounder!! My favorite commuter rail!

[@thyagarajannatarajan6234]

Hey @LonestarTrips I am very excited to see this video finally come out. This is one that I have been waiting for to come out. The content that you are putting out is amazing. Although, I was a tad bit disappointed that it was the southern line, this was something I still was excited by. Congrats on 18k subs. Now the road starts to 20. I have loved your content from day one, so it makes me happy to see your channel growing. Here is some content I would love to see: Commuter Rail: Music City Starr Train--WeGo Transit (Nashville) West Coast Express (Vancouver) SunRail (Orlando) South Shore Line eBART Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer (NYP-Pittsfield) Palmetto/Silver Service (NYP-SAV/TPA/MIA) Empire Builder + California Zephyr City of New Orleans Aviation: Alaska Airlines Content *I'm not sure if any of these are in the pipeline so I apologize if any of these ideas are to be filmed.

[@jessicaburdell7779]

I thought BNSF had sold most of their first and second generation C44-9W's to Kansas City Southern and CN before the CPKC formation merger. Nice to see you caught at least two of them still in service on the manifest.

[@lisanau3472]

This is awesome! I've lived in Seattle most of my life but have never taken the Sounder. This video is great motivation to finally do so!

[@timbacchus]

Always look forward to that happy voice

[@himbourbanist]

I've yet to ride the Sounder but the livery is just beautiful. I do love that Sound Transit's liveries on all of their modes are so consistent, they have really great graphic design teams for their rolling stock. it seems like a solid organization with big plans in the coming years that are starting to come to fruition. I think the biggest downside is that none of the Sounder trains run on the weekends. Getting some weekend or late-night service would be a game changer for this system.

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

The problem is that thw BNSF line they run on is super congested with container freight from the port

[@Liggie55821]

They do run it on selected weekends for events like Seahawk games or Taylor Swift concerts.

[@himbourbanist]

I was unaware of this! I know Taylor Swift is a huge draw to transit systems, I'm surprised that Sound Transit doesn't just keep running them for weekend service. Would probably draw even more riders during big events since riders would know the train will show up on a Saturday and use it instead of just drive@@Liggie55821

[@rhallanger]

One very unique thing about this system is it is operated by BNSF Railway engineers and conductors. In many places like Metrolink LA they are operated by Amtrak EN/COs. So this is a bit unique.

[@johanrebel]

$3.75 for a 12 minute hop? No wonder the train is packed!

[@zeruty]

A day pass only costs 2x the one way fare price

[@kanchanananayakkara8959]

Very informative report. Loved it❤

[@awesomeman116a]

Ooh brightline video next, im excited!!

[@rcl1955ca]

Its about $7.45 in Ontario on the GO for a 37 minute ride. The cars are eerily similar (also made by Bombardier) to the GO but it's fleet still uses older cars and has nowhere near the amenities (no tables or luggage racks). The seats are also a bit shop worn (not helped by the number of liquid spills and the dogs that sit in the seats, another issue for another time no doubt).

[@gb9727]

All operators of bi levels should get the new cabs

[@Santrestixx]

Nice!

[@DavidLovesJesus]

Thanks!

[@alexlin4108]

Cool and stylish

[@threeparots1]

No onboard latte bar is kinda of a surprise in Seattle. Westcoast express in Vancouver replaced one of the bathrooms with a latte/snack kiosk. Wasn’t bad. It is a good system for those outside of the metro area. Certainly comfy

[@anthonybanchero3072]

Ironically it passes within blocks of Starbucks HQ.

[@zeruty]

Seattle is known for coffee but the truly unique Seattle cultural phenomenon is chicken teriyaki. There are way more teriyaki restaurants than Starbucks in Seattle.

[@Shredderbox]

So efficient that each train set runs basically one inbound run, sits all day, and then does an outbound run. Suuuuuuper efficient. 🥴

[@ttopero]

This is similar service that RTD in Denver wants to add to Boulder & Longmont: 3 trips into Denver in AM & 3 trips out to Boulder in PM. There’s a coach service to downtown Boulder that is quite nice & more convenient for me visiting the university, neighborhoods, & downtown, so a train outside the core of the city won’t add anything for me but I’d still like the option. Also convoluted by BNSF!

[@robfritz841]

It seems like the passing of the freight train took almost as long as the ride from Seattle to Tukwila?

[@Santrestixx]

Coaster almost went bankrupt recently 😭😭😭😭😭💀💀💀💀❤️😄😄😍😍😍😍💯🤪☠️💀💀🤣🤣😂

[@ttopero]

As I’ve never been to Seattle & I’ve heard that the platforms around King Street are not adjacent to other transit platforms, a map showing the surrounding areas as you describe the station area would be appreciated. Also a walk around & beyond the station to get an idea of what the experience is like getting to & departing from the station for different people would be highly appreciated for this urban designer.

[@stephenkeever6029]

I always enjoy your upbeat speaking voice! (response to a comment below)

[@LonestarTrips]

Much appreciated 😊 it’s always wonderful to see you in the comments every week!

[@brianriggs2335]

I love riding the Sounder, but sadly it is rare anymore since I work during the week and the Sounder doesn't operate on weekends

[@zeruty]

The Sounder has so few runs that it's barely useful for commuting to work. I think most people have no use for it.

[@kertchu]

Bruh, I wish it rained when I visited Seattle but it was the summer :(

[@jgt2598]

I ride this train but northbound! Tacoma to Tukwila (42 minutes) for $4.50 each way, even less since my job pays for 75% of a monthly pass.

[@Cassandra-..-]

Well, except for all of the mudslide outages…

[@jwrarmstrong]

Amtrak 516 took 4 hours to cover 157 miles. This is what rail travel is like in North America,

[@natemadill2390]

It looks like they straped cabs onto passenger cars

[@ttopero]

It looks like there’s a third rail to express and/or run freight on to avoid the high speed freight situation you encountered. Any idea why they didn’t use that track considering it’s chasing a passenger one now?

[@vananderson2895]

The third track doesn't run to the next Sounder Station where the catch-up will occur, and the Sounder train actually will cross over to the far track in between. The near track is actually the clear passage for the freight train around the commuter service once you get down the line a ways.

[@calebcheongbenghwee]

hi, please review the new jakarta to bandung high speed train (whoosh). thanks in advance...

[@PNate_KTrainVer.]

I've seen the train before but it wasnt running

[@bryanhamilton4531]

One stadium is mlb and the other one is nfl

[@JJRol.]

2:43 Amtrak Cascades Cabbage car??? Haha. I was waiting for this video for a long time, happy to see it finally released! Sounder looks pretty good but for commuter rail like this fares should be based on distance not a fixed fare

[@vananderson2895]

The fares on Sounder actually are distance based and range from $3.25 to $5.75 on the south line and $3.25 to $5.00 on the north line. Orca card users get their fares transferred for two hours, so a Sound Transit bus into Auburn Station will be $3.25, and the Sounder train into Seattle for $4.25 will only cost you the extra $1.00, and any downtown bus or light rail trip won't cost you any extra due to fares all being under the $4.25 you've already paid. You just have to remember to tap your Orca card out when you get to your destination so it charges you the exact fare, and not the max fare from your origin station, which is only $4.50 from Auburn.

[@tf51d]

Since the loco is numbered 911, they should have themed it honoring first responders!

[@thomasrobinson8336]

I mean no disrepect but. How quainte. 4 Coaches. THe GO Train im on everyonce in a while has 12. And GO has double decker coaches. With No bathroom. This is what we went through. Nice video Subscribed

[@pastasauce]

The South Line used to have 7 before the pandemic, and the North Line from Everett had 4/train with 4 trains/day. Currently Sound Transit has settled on 5 for the South Line and 2 for the less popular North Line, with only 2 trains/day.

[@IronHorsefan1869]

Why didn't you go all the way to Lakewood?

[@LonestarTrips]

The scheduling didn't work out. I could get down to lakewood, but there's no train back north until the afternoon.

[@IronHorsefan1869]

@@LonestarTrips there are buses though

[@randalllewis4485]

@@LonestarTrips And you've hit the nail on the head as to why Sounder has not been as successful in the region as it could have been: no midday return trips. Tacoma (and now Lakewood) have pushed for this service repeatedly as it would allow simple roundtrip visits for meetings as well as simply more options for overnight visits. ST staff dismiss the need and also blame the freight rail companies. Sound Transit could have included construction of its own rail line between Seattle and Tacoma in any of its voter approved revenue packages but did not. It is a lost opportunity. PS. I know there are buses, but that isn't the answer for everyone.

[@MidnightWarrior1976]

Cost efficient? Not according to Michael Medved.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Although the station is beautiful, Sounder trains are relegated to a horrible concrete ditch out in the rain 😊

[@kuroneko99]

Do you still buy a ticket if you have an orca card? Or do you 'pay' for your ticket with the orca card?

[@victorskwrxsti7899]

>Seattle's Efficient Commuter Rail Line Yeah right... they might be operating 13 round trips for South but ONLY 2 round trips for North route. And the route is constantly closed from land slide. It gives bad name to all trains.

[@toadscoper4575]

So it’s only ONE commuter line?!? And it’s unelectrified?!?!? C’mon Seattle…

[@SomeRamdomAhole]

2* and take it up with BNSF……

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

Not profitable to become electrified line. Only about 14,000 passengers average a day use the sounder. Caltrain from San Jose to San Francisco gets about 60,000 a day. It’s already upgraded to be electrified line part of the CHSR project.

[@davidjackson7281]

@@GalenlevyPhotoCaltrain ridership is down 40% to around 35,000. Bart and ACE are also down 40%. May recover in 20 years.

[@vananderson2895]

@@SomeRamdomAhole It's really too bad they didn't build all that infrastructure on the much more open parallel UP line. Basically the Puyallup station is the only one that would have had to be built more than about five blocks away from the current stations, and that line feeds directly into freighthouse square from the Fife yard.

[@BirbarianHomeGuard]

They need to build an electrified deck for passenger trains above that congested BNSF corridor so they can run regular trains.

[@NightRidah777]

There is a light rail that runs this same route from Seattle to Tulwika every few mins. This is just morning/evening weekday train

[@lecho0175]

​@@NightRidah777S-Bahn systems (commuter lines) can coexist with light rail

[@davidburrow5895]

I'm not a fan of seating in groups of 4. Basically nobody is commuting as part of a group, and far too many people hog the entire section for themselves. I far prefer the standard 2 x 2 format, where at most people are hogging one additional seat.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

To make matters worse on the identical GO Transit coaches, the upstairs is designated as a quiet zone, so people travelling in a group shouldn't even sit there to begin with. They should really rearrange the upstairs seating to be in rows, while the downstairs seating remains in quads to encourage groups to sit down there

[@aviano72]

Is this an old video ? so many people wearing facemasks 😷🤢 Nice English weather btw 😂

[@darthmaul216]

Kinda like England, but with 5 volcanos

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[@SomeRamdomAhole]

Stfu scammers…

[@Keikdv]

Efficient??? Only trains in the morning into town and than trains out in the evening?? And nothing in between? Misserable. That is the word.

[@LonestarTrips]

Sure, but you clicked on it, so that’s pretty efficient.

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

We need to buy out track from BNSF than we can service every half hour

[@crazoatmeal1854]

Agree completely, though the south line does have a little bidirectional service even if it's still limited to the 9-5 commute, and you could do a lot worse than 13 round trips a day. North line on the other hand might as well not even exist...

[@michlo3393]

Somebody doesn't understand how _commuter rail_ works. It's literally only for peak times when COMMUTERS are either going in or out of the city center.

[@jslasher1]

This narrator has the most irritating, upbeat speaking voice. Nice videos, however. I hit the 'mute' on my iMac.

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks for the comment! It really helps push my irritating voice to more people!

[@edeinhorn6016]

I totally disagree with your opinion. In my opinion, this narrator speaks with excellent clarity, he does not slur any words, and his inflections add to the "color" of his voice. In fact, on a previous video I asked him in the comments section if he was a professional voiceover actor, due to his method of speaking on these videos. Does he speak like this in normal life when chatting with friends and family? I doubt it. But, this is a video and his voice exudes professionalism. I am not replying to get into a debate with you. I am replying because you have a negative opinion of his narration voice and I have a positive opinion. And, in the end, each of us is entitled to our opinions.