MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Most Seattle-area trains, buses, ferries on holiday schedules for Thanksgiving

Nov 24, 2021, 6:06 AM | Updated: 3:47 pm

Sound Transit, holiday schedules, fare...

The Link light rail station at Northgate in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of Sound Transit/Twitter)

(Photo courtesy of Sound Transit/Twitter)

Plan ahead now as public transit schedules in the greater Seattle area may look a little different on your typical routes for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Sea-Tac Airport on how to skip TSA lines during Thanksgiving travel rush

Sound Transit

Among the service reductions for Sound Transit on Thanksgiving Day: Sounder commuter rail will not operate; ST Express bus routes will operate on Sunday schedules; Link light rail will run on Sunday schedules; and Tacoma Link will run on Sunday schedules.

The day after Thanksgiving, there will be limited Sounder trains as Sounder service will operate on a modified schedule. There will be no service on the Sounder North line on Friday.

Other service on Friday is as follows: ST Express buses will operate regular weekday service; Link light rail will operate on Saturday schedules; and Tacoma Link will operate regular weekday service.

Find more information about the holiday schedules online here from Sound Transit. Sign up for rider alerts to receive up-to-date information about service changes here.

Washington State Ferries

For those planning a ferry ride over the holiday weekend, prepare for busy sailings. The latest sailing schedules can be found online here from Washington State Ferries. If crewing allows, the ferry system says more daily sailings may be added on routes operating reduced service.

WSF temporarily switched to alternate service schedules on most runs on Oct. 16 in order to reduce the number of last-minute cancellations caused by staff shortages. The severe staffing shortage is due to many variables, WSF notes, including a global shortage of mariners that has been exacerbated by the pandemic, an aging workforce, and COVID-19 cases and quarantines.

Even without a crew shortage, however, ferries are popular every holiday weekend and WSF says people boarding a ferry should be prepared for long waits.

The busiest sailings will likely be westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 24, through Thursday morning, Nov. 25. Eastbound (or off island) will see the busiest sailings Thursday afternoon through Friday, Nov. 26. To reduce or eliminate your time spent waiting, WSF suggests considering an early morning or late night sailing, or walking on.

On Thanksgiving Day, there will be a few schedule changes for the Point Defiance/Tahlequah run, along with the Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton routes if supplemental service is added. The Seattle/Bainbridge Island and Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth runs will operate on a weekend timetable that day with a few schedule changes if service is added.

Washington State Ferries to slowly start returning normal service

Sign up for ferry email alerts here, and check terminal conditions here before you go.

If you’re taking a state highway to get to the ferry terminal, plan ahead for backups and delays with real-time traffic information on the Washington State Department of Transportation’s travel map here.

MyNorthwest News

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

48 minutes ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

59 minutes ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

2 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

5 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone and Bill Kaczaraba

‘Kia Boyz’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

6 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

7 hours ago

Most Seattle-area trains, buses, ferries on holiday schedules for Thanksgiving