Upcoming light rail maintenance may impact commute on Sound Transit
Sep 7, 2026, 6:30 PM | Updated: 6:30 pm
A Link light rail train during its route. (Photo courtesy of Sound Transit)
(Photo courtesy of Sound Transit)
Sound Transit riders should plan ahead this month as several maintenance projects will alter Link light rail service, including periods when shuttle buses will replace trains on portions of the 1 Line and 2 Line.
According to Sound Transit, some work has already been completed, but additional projects are scheduled throughout September.
The first service disruption is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, when shuttle buses will replace 2 Line trains between South Bellevue and Overlake Village from 11 p.m. until the end of service. Sound Transit said the closure is needed for surge arrestor replacement, a standard maintenance project.
During that work, 2 Line trains will continue operating between Downtown Redmond and Overlake Village and between South Bellevue and Lynnwood City Center. Shuttle buses will run between Overlake Village and South Bellevue every 10 to 15 minutes.
Later in the month, riders should expect additional bus substitutions.
From Sept. 15 through Sept. 17, buses will replace both 1 Line and 2 Line trains during late-night hours between SODO, Judkins Park, and Capitol Hill stations for monthly maintenance work.
Sound Transit has also scheduled several projects that will not change train schedules but could affect how passengers board trains during late-night hours.
From Sept. 21 through Sept. 25 and again Sept. 28 through Sept. 30, 2 Line trains will share a single track between Mercer Island and South Bellevue during late-night hours while crews install fencing. There will be no scheduled service impacts, but passengers at Mercer Island Station will board trains traveling in both directions from the same platform.
Another late-night project is scheduled from Sept. 24 through Sept. 28, when 2 Line trains will share one track between South Bellevue and Downtown Redmond for rail milling.
Sound Transit describes rail milling as a mechanical process that shaves down tracks to create a properly profiled rail free of defects. The agency said the work helps create longer-lasting tracks and provides a smoother ride for passengers. No scheduled service impacts are expected during the rail-milling project.
Riders can sign up for automatic service alerts covering Link light rail, ST Express bus routes, the T Line, and Sounder services through Sound Transit’s service alert program. The alerts provide information about schedule changes and help riders plan trips around inclement weather.
For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit Sound Transit Service Alerts.
