Sound Transit: Our Vehicles

Sound Transit is a multi-modal transit agency. What this means is that Sound Transit uses different types of vehicles to provide different types of transit options. Offering options is an important way to encourage people to use transit.

To provide frequent and predictable service and make it easy and reliable to use, Sound Transit has a menu of transit options to choose from. And we are always researching new options for consideration in future projects.

Transit plays a big role in our region. And transit vehicles are integral to that role. We hope that you find the vehicle information on our Web site helpful and informative.

Sound Transit purchases buses and trains that are then operated and maintained by its partner agencies, i.e. King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Community Transit and the BNSF Railway. The one exception to this is Tacoma Link light rail, which is operated by Sound Transit.

This page and its links provide information about the vehicles that Sound Transit owns. This includes Link light rail trains, Sounder commuter rail trains, and ST Express regional buses.

All Sound Transit vehicles and facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, and to bicycle riders.

Choose a vehicle name from the navigation bar on the left or from the list below to find out about the Sound Transit vehicles that you can ride.

	Link light rail Link light rail cars are now being constructed and delivered to Sound Transit from Kinkisharyo/Mitsui of Osaka, Japan. Trains are currently being tested on city streets, and by 2009, Link light rail will run from Downtown Seattle to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

	Tacoma Link light rail Tacoma Link connects the Tacoma Dome Station (a regional hub for local and express bus, and commuter train service) with downtown Tacoma. Link trains run every 10 minutes, Monday through Saturday, and every 10 to 20 minutes on Sunday. Best of all Tacoma Link is FREE!

	Sounder commuter rail Sounder offers unparalleled views of the region while providing commuter rail service between downtown Tacoma and Seattle; and between Everett and Seattle. Service operates Monday through Friday from Seattle, Washington, north to Everett and south to Tacoma.

	ST Express 40-foot diesel bus (Gillig) Considered work horses, ST Express's 40-foot diesel buses manufactured by Gillig require little maintenance and are highly adaptable for different types of operating and commuting conditions.

	ST Express 45-foot long-haul bus (MCI) The 45-foot long-haul ST Express bus manufactured by Motor Coach Industries provides a smooth, quiet and extremely comfortable ride. With limited stops between Seattle and Tacoma, these vehicles are low-maintenance and fuel efficient.

	ST Express 40-foot compressed natural gas bus (New Flyer) ST Express's 40-foot compressed natural gas buses are manufactured by New Flyer. They provide seating for 30 passengers and travel between Pierce and King counties. Compressed natural gas produces far fewer emissions than other fuels, cutting nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions by 90 percent.

	ST Express 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid bus (New Flyer) Hybrid buses are vital to the Link light rail system. The hybrid diesel-electric technology enables both trains and buses to use the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. This advanced transit vehicle provides a reduction in emissions by 60 percent to 90 percent, a reduction of 1/3 the brake wear, and better acceleration resulting in a smoother ride.

	ST Express 60-foot diesel low floor bus (New Flyer) Sound Transit has been operating 60-foot New Flyer low-floor articulated buses since the start of ST Express service in 1999. These buses have an articulated, or “slinky” section in the middle that allows the vehicle to bend and flex. They carry many more people than a conventional 40-foot bus.

	ST Express 60-foot diesel-electric hybrid bus (New Flyer) These articulated buses manufactured by New Flyer are engineered with a “tunnel mode” where power largely comes from batteries, with the engine idling only when needed to keep the batteries charged. This will allow the buses to run on battery power when they operate in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.

	ST Express 40-foot compressed natural gas bus (Orion) Compressed natural gas produces far fewer emissions than other fuels, cutting nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions by 90 percent. Sound Transit has found that in most cases it also costs less to use compressed natural gas buses. The engines on these buses run quieter and the fuel reduces engine wear.