No Capitol Hill-U District light rail service this weekend to repair damage at University of Washington Station and get trains back up to speed

Sound Transit has announced that light rail service between Capitol Hill and the University District will be suspended this weekend to conduct essential repairs on the Overhead Contact System (OCS). This maintenance is crucial, following damage from a September incident where a train's broken pantograph caused operational slowdowns. Consequently, shuttle buses will operate in lieu of trains, providing service every 10-15 minutes and making stops at the University of Washington Station. Meanwhile, Link trains will maintain service on other routes, departing every 15 minutes between Angle Lake and Capitol Hill, and from U District to Lynnwood City Center. This service interruption is part of a series of planned outages as Sound Transit gears up for the full opening of the 2 Line, which is expected to enhance connectivity across the region by late 2025.

Sound Transit has indicated that the U District shutdown is a significant milestone, marking the halfway point in their major disruption efforts. Additionally, the agency is addressing unplanned service issues that have affected reliability in the past year. The focus remains on ensuring safe and efficient transit as these repairs are completed.