Aug. 28 update: Repairs and testing for South Lake Union Streetcar planned for today
King County Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) have been continuing to work together to repair the power system which runs the South Lake Union Streetcar. Metro has now received four replacement high-voltage control units, and plans to install and test the new electrical parts today.
People may see streetcars operating while the repaired power system is being tested, but passenger service has not yet resumed. Once power systems and trains are performing reliably, customer notifications will be sent announcing when service will be restored.
The First Hill Streetcar is continuing to run as normal. Nearby bus service continues to offer alternatives to riders who need to travel between downtown Seattle and South Lake Union:
- Route 40:Timetable and route map.
- Route 70: Timetable and route map.
- RapidRide C Line: Timetable and route map.
Service on the South Lake Union streetcar route was suspended on August 9 when specialized electrical control units in the power substations failed.
The South Lake Union route of the Seattle Streetcar is powered by two traction power substations which went into service in 2007 and power the streetcar through overhead wires. Under normal circumstances, either one can power the streetcar at reduced service levels if there is an issue with the other one. The current service disruption is because both substations have experienced technical issues at the same time.
Metro staff perform ongoing maintenance of this equipment including regular inspections. Metro’s electrical vendor that supports streetcar operations identified worn-out control units that manage the high-voltage breakers at one substation in July and began working to obtain highly specialized replacement parts which are not readily available in North America. Streetcar service was not fully suspended until an issue arose with the second back-up power substation on August 9.