Historic milestone First powered light rail vehicle crosses I-90 floating bridge

The Link light rail vehicle successfully crossed the I-90 floating bridge under its own power, marking a historic milestone for transit. This event represents the first instance in the world of powered trains operating across a floating bridge, as stated by Sound Transit. During the test, a single train crossed the Homer M. Hadley bridge multiple times, gradually increasing its speed from 5 mph to a maximum of 55 mph. Crews conducted the tests overnight to observe electrical arcing, a common occurrence during this phase of testing, between the overhead power wires and the light rail vehicle.

The system integration testing program includes live wire and signal testing, which will conclude in the coming months. Intermittent testing will continue between Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations over the next few weeks. This development is crucial for the preparation of the full 2 Line, scheduled to open in early 2026. Further information about the Crosslake Connection is available through Sound Transit.