Sound Transit Sets Date for New Link Light Rail Service
The 6.5-mile segment of the East Link Extension includes eight new stations in Bellevue and Redmond.

The full 2 Line is expected to open in 2025. Completion of the 1-90 segment of East Link was delayed by quality issues, which are currently being corrected.
Photo: Sound Transit
Seattle’s Sound Transit announced the initial segment of its Link 2 Line will open to passenger service on April 27.
The 6.5-mile segment of the East Link Extension includes eight new stations in Bellevue and Redmond. The initial segment will terminate at the South Bellevue Station at the west end, and the Redmond Technology Station on the east. Two-car trains will run every 10 minutes, 16 hours a day.
“The 2 Line is the product of the sustained commitment of project partners and community members, and years of hard work by Sound Transit staff and contractors,” said Sound Transit Interim CEO Goran Sparrman. “Having worked on the East Link project with the City of Bellevue in the planning phase, I’m excited to see the project moving toward opening.”
East Link Extension Impact
The full 2 Line is expected to open in 2025. Completion of the 1-90 segment of East Link was delayed by quality issues, which are currently being corrected.
When completed, the I-90 segment will add the Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations to the 2 Line and connect to the 1 Line at the International District/Chinatown Station in downtown Seattle. The Downtown Redmond Link Extension is also scheduled to open in 2025 with the Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond stations completing the 2 Line.
Service will run from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week and will connect with the regional transit network at South Bellevue, Bellevue Downtown, and Redmond Technology stations.
More Rail

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record
Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Read More →
Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges
The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.
Read More →
Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement
Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips
With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard
The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.
Read More →
Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train
The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.
Read More →
OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor
The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.
Read More →