Sounder trains will once again be providing special service to and from select Sounders Football Club matches this year, as the Sounders defend The Supporters’ Shield.
The complete schedule for special Sounder service is here. For the season opener on Sunday, March 8, against the New England Revolution, the South Sounder will depart Lakewood Station at 3:45 p.m. and arrive at King Street Station at 4:58. The North Sounder will depart Everett Station at 4:15 p.m. and arrive at King Street Station at 5:14. Both trains arrive in time to join the March to the Match, taking off from Occidental Park at 5:30. First kick is at 6:30.
Return Sounder trains depart 35 minutes after the final whistle, giving fans time to catch most of Sound Wave’s post-match jam at the north end of the stadium.
This is the first full season that fans will be able to park at Burien Transit Center, South Renton Park & Ride, or Renton Transit Center, and take the new F Line to Tukwila Sounder Station (for the matches that have Sounder service) or Tukwila International Boulevard (light rail) Station, and get back to these parking lots on the same bus line.
The interesting thing about this year compared to previous years is that the majority of the trains are evening trains. Previously Sound Transit had refused to provide service for matches that were after about 3pm. The only exception I remember being the Clint Dempsey introduction match. Almost all of them were 12pm or 1pm matches.
Lets see if this trend continues with evening Seahawks game service. In the past, ST and BNSF refused to provide special service to Seahawks evening games.
From the schedule, it looks like its still only Sat and Sun games, none of the late night weekday games. So I’m guessing the Seahawks are still out of luck for Monday/Thursday night football.
Logistically that would be hard if not impossibke when all of your in service trains are in use for commuters.