Taking Amtrak to Seattle Southside
Taking the train to Seattle Southside is an easy, stress-free alternative to driving.
Sounder Train
For weekday travel around the Puget Sound region, Sounder (S Line) offers a comfortable, reliable alternative to driving.
It's also a great way to get to a sporting event at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park. You'll skip all the freeway traffic while enjoying spacious seating, onboard restrooms, free Wi-Fi, and scenic views along the route. Below, find information on where Sounder stops, when it runs, and how to pay.
Where Can You Take Sounder From?
Sounder trains stop at Tukwila Station, providing direct service between Seattle and Lakewood, with stops in Kent, Tacoma, and other South Sound communities. See a full list of stops below.
How Often Does Sounder Train Run?
Sounder operates primarily during weekday morning and afternoon commute periods.
During weekday morning rush hours (5:30 - 8:30 a.m.), Sounder northbound runs roughly every 20 minutes between Lakewood and Seattle. There is typically one mid-morning northbound train, and several in the late afternoon. To return to Tukwila Station from Seattle, check the schedule for King Street Station. There are many southbound trains running between 2:25 and 6:30.*
*This information was updated in August 2026. Always check the schedule online before boarding, as it can change throughout the year.
Pro Tip: Check the Service Alerts Page, or sign up to get alerts delivered to your email or phone.
Does Sounder Operate on Weekends?
Sounder typically does not operate on weekends, except for during special events such as concerts and Seahawks, Sounders, and Mariners games. It does not operate every weekend. Check Sound Transit's Routes and Schedules page for up-to-date information. There is a dedicated Event Service page where you can find which weekends it will operate and when.
Stop at Tukwila Station for Shopping, Food, and Attractions
Want a fun, easy weekend getaway? Stop at Tukwila Station and explore the surrounding area. Within 10 minutes of the station, you'll find:
- Restaurants and Shopping Galore: Walk or take a short bus ride or car service to hundreds of places to eat and shop, including Westfield Southcenter, Washington's largest shopping center.
- Family Friendly: There are tons of indoor and outdoor attractions nearby, from an amusement park to go-karts to cutting-edge escape games and more. Find family fun activities.
- Hotel Hub: There are more than 60 hotels in Seattle Southside, where the station is located. For example, Courtyard Seattle Sea-Tac Area and Embassy Suites by Hilton are both a 5-minute walk from the station. Browse more hotels.
How to Pay for Sounder
Paying for Sounder is similar to paying for other Sound Transit services, such as Link light rail. You can use an ORCA card, which you can purchase at a ticket machine. Or you can buy one-way, return, or all-day rail tickets. Ticket machines accept cash and credit/debit cards such as Visa or MasterCard. Other payment options include buying a ticket on your phone with the Transit GO ticket app or making a contactless payment by tapping a credit/debit card on the reader.
One-way adult fares for Sounder range between $3.25 and $5.75, depending on how far you travel. Day passes are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased. You can buy them from ticket machines; note that they are only usable for the stations printed on the ticket.
Link Light Rail
This is how to beat the traffic in Seattle. Ideal for the car-free traveler and one of the most popular forms of transit for visitors to Seattle Southside, the light rail can take you from the airport to downtown Seattle in just 30 minutes.