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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 33m

In response to feedback about the RapidRide R Line’s proposed stop consolidation, Metro has restored the stops on Rainier at Bayview St and State St/Grand St. No other stops have been changed. This alignment has been sent to King Counth Council for a vote within the next few weeks.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 10h

Very cool to see the new locomotive join the train.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 16h

While the Northeast Corridor is electrified between Boston and Washington, DC, some trips continue south past DC. These trains need to swap from an electric locomotive to a diesel locomotive in DC.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 18h

I’m spending the next few hours on the Northeast Regional diving into Metro ridership data from the spring and summer. This is the first full service change since the Federal Way Link Extension and the full 2 Line opened. I expect to have seattletransitridership.com updated by the end of the week.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Did Uber literally reinvent the bus?

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

The much anticipated connection between Route 7 and the 2 Line is not that popular. Only 200 passengers board a Route 7 bus at Judkins Park station each weekday. This is lower than many stops that Metro proposed removing in the RapidRide R project (eg: Andover, Bayview, Charles).

Ridership chart for Route 7 between March and September 2026.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

The Airo’s panoramic windows will be a big improvement on the Northeast Corridor. From what I can tell it is a scenic route.

View from my seat (a support column and trees outside the small window).

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

After riding an Amtrak Airo train last week, boarding an Amfleet train today felt like trip back in time. The Amfleets are a classic, but the Airo trains offer so many minor upgrades that add up to a much nicer ride. I can’t wait to see them on the Northeast Corridor next year.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Left the truck in the suburbs and got a real upgrade for our trip to Boston.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Our rental car was “upgraded” to a pickup truck. This is the least efficient vehicle I have ever driven, by far. Our two suitcases and backpacks barely fit in the back seat. The truck gets a whopping 19 miles per gallon so I now have the upgraded experience of paying even more for gas.

Black pickup truck at the rental car center

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Stop by Lynnwood Transit Center today before 5pm to see Bluebell, a 1959 GMC New Look bus that was part of the original Community Transit fleet.

The inside of the bus, now converted to a traveling museum.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

In 2009, Community Transit launched the first BRT route in the region. The Swift Blue Line offered limited stop service on Hwy99/Evergreen Way between Everett and Aurora Village Transit Center. Two more Swift lines have since opened and the Swift Gold Line is scheduled to begin service in 2031.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Community Transit has led the region in adopting new approaches to improve transit. In 2007, CT introduced double decker buses to Puget Sound. The “Double Tall” buses could carry up to 100 passengers at a time, boosting the capacity of the busiest commuter routes to Seattle.

Community Transit Double Tall bus on Route 904

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Happy 50th anniversary to Community Transit! The agency began with just seven routes and 500 daily passengers on October 4, 1976. Since then, it has expanded to serve 30,000 passengers every weekday across 34 routes.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Stop by the South Seattle Club Fair today before 2pm! We are at Centilia Cultural Center next to Beacon Hill station! 🥏

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Is this what you have in mind? These are from the March 2026 service change.

3rd Ave bus stops from the March 2026 service change.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Some anecdotal ridership data: At 8:30am each southbound train had about 10-15 boardings. Each northbound train had about 1 boarding. No one (except me) got off any of the trains. At 5:00pm, each SB train had 10 boardings. Each NB train had about 2 boardings and 15-20 alightings.

People boarding a southbound 2 Line train

People wait for the train In the morning.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The new Metro Route 77 provides east/west service to Pinehurst station from Bitter Lake and Lake City. I rode Route 77 to/from Pinehurst four times today and every trip had between 5 and 15 people board or alight at Pinehurst station.

Group of people about to board a westbound Route 77 bus

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

SDOT is working on some exciting improvements to the area that will make biking to Pinehurst station easier and safer. Even before these improvements, biking is a popular way to access the station. www.seattle.gov/transportati...

Someone walking their bike near Pinehurst station

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As many people have noted, the land use around the station is really bad. This can and should change. In the meantime, ensuring convenient and safe bike and transit connections is key.

New protected bike lane outside Pinehurst station.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I stopped by to check out Pinehurst station today. The station itself is really compact compared to other elevated Link stations. Romson Bustillo did an incredible job with the station art. The installation brightens the space and makes the station more inviting.

Crowd of people entering Pinehurst station.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I wonder if the Trees and People Coalition cares about the hundreds of healthy trees that were cut down to build a highway.

SR-509 construction tearing through Des Moines Creek Park, just south of Seattle.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The conductor used the paper tags for about half the car before he noticed the screens were updating.

Paper tags sticking out of the aisle seats on an Airo train.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I’m time traveling this morning. After getting off an Amtrak Airo train, I boarded a Route 574 bus to SeaTac Airport.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Big quality of life upgrade: the info screens indicate when the closest restroom is occupied.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The name screens are used in Coach Class as well. The conductor updates each screen when checking tickets. This replaces the paper tag that used to be placed at each seat.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The panoramic windows are a huge upgrade.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Happy to report Amtrak Airo trains offer incredible views on the Cascades route.

Mount Rainier during sunrise seen from the train.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The cafe car is the busiest breakfast spot in town this morning.

Obscured view of the cafe line, about 20 people long.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The name screens work (in Business Class)

Name screen reserved from Seattle to Tacoma

Name screen reserved from Tacoma to Centralia

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Amtrak Airo has started revenue service! Congratulations to everyone at @amtrak.com and @amtrakcascades.wsdot.wa.gov!

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Both trains today have a southbound facing NPCU. This is needed because of an issue with at-grade crossing signal circuit activations on the Car 6 cabs.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Two Amtrak Airo trains are at the station today. The one in the back is heading to Vancouver, BC in an hour.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Good morning from King Street Station! In just 30 minutes the inaugural Amtrak Airo train will depart and travel south to Eugene, Oregon.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

There are even name screens above every seat

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Thank you for a great ride @amtrakcascades.wsdot.wa.gov! See you again on Wednesday!

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The giant windows include a built in shade if needed.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Riding in coach today and the legroom is great. Beats flying every day of the week.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Missed this earlier: seats for people with mobility devices have a ceiling light in place of a seat mounted light.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Bathroom tour! Side note: listen to how clear the PA system sounds.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Bike racks are located throughout the train total capacity is 18 bikes.

Empty bike rack. These can be converted to luggage racks as well.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The adjustable height tables for mobility device users are great. Unfortunately, only the first three cars (business, cafe, first coach car) are fully accessible. While there are spaces for passengers with mobility devices throughout the train, the passageways may be too narrow for some users.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Took a quick break from exploring to do some train spotting.

Cascades train seen from the new Airo train.

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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The “recline” is the same style as other new Amtrak trains. The bottom of the seat slides forward so the person behind is not bothered.

Two economy seats, one in the reclined position

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