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How to Ride
Riding U Link is safe and easy. Trains offer two-way dependable service every day regardless of the weather or freeway congestion. From the University of Washington Station to Capitol Hill is only four minutes and downtown Seattle is eight minutes away. From the Capitol Hill Station, the ride to Sea-Tac Airport is 42 minutes. That’s all day, every day.
The best way to get there is to walk, bike or ride transit. There is no parking. Plan your trip to the University of Washington Station or Capitol Hill Station with our regional trip planner.
Trains are bike-friendly, but space is limited. Consider parking your bike at the station and walking on board. There is room for four bicycles per car, two in the designated area and two with the riders standing alongside.
Parking is not available at the University of Washington or Capitol Hill stations.
Trains run 20 hours a day, every six minutes during peak time, every 10 minutes middays and evenings and every 15 minutes after 10 p.m. Link light rail schedule
Paying for your ride is easy with an ORCA card. You can buy your ORCA card and add value to it at the station ticket vending machines located at all Link stations. You can also buy a paper ticket from the ticket vending machines. The machines take cash or you can also pre-pay using a visa/mastercard online.
You can use your ORCA card on transit systems throughout Central Puget Sound. The card automatically calculates your fares and transfers. Tap ORCA on the yellow card reader at the station before entering your train. Tap off when your trip is over.
University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations will be served by many buses. Transferring from bus to light rail is easy with an ORCA card.
Beginning March 26, University of Washington Station will connect to ST Express routes 540, 541, 542, 556 and 586. And Metro routes 43, 44, 45, 48, 65, 71, 78, 73/373, 167, 197, 271 and 277. Routes 31, 32, 67, 75, 372, 810, 821, 855, 860, 871 and 880 will also be available a short walk away at Stevens Way.
Metro paper transfers do not work on Link.
Sound Transit’s regional trip planner lets you organize your trip. You can use it on your mobile or desktop. The trip planner works for all regional buses and trains.
Uber and Lyft provide another option to getting to the stations.Uberhop provides shuttle-style service between select neighborhoods. Learn more >>
Lyft is offering discounted rides to/from both stations the week of March 21-25, using the following promo codes: New Lyft customers: ULINKSEATTLE. Existing Lyft customers: ULINK16. Visit http://lft.to/1S2tqb4 for details, some restrictions apply
Trains are wheelchair accessible. Every vehicle contains four priority areas for senior citizens and riders with disabilities. Link trains feature level boarding so you can board directly from the platform without climbing steps or using a lift or ramp.Find more on accessibility here.
The U Link stations are well-lit and include security cameras throughout. The stations are patrolled by Sound Transit security and transit police. Stand behind the yellow warning tiles on the platform while waiting for your train. Grab the handrail when you’re on the escalator. Hold the hands of any young children traveling with you.
All you need to know to ride light rail is found in the Rider Guide. You’ll find everything from parking, to WiFi, to rules for riding with pets.
“Capitol Hill is a wonderful community, but it’s difficult to get there. University Link will be amazing, connecting to both downtown and the UW in minutes. We can’t wait for opening day!”
“This is exciting. Taking U Link trains to Capitol Hill or all the way to the airport is perfect.”
“Being a UW Air Force ROTC cadet and living in the south end means waking up at 3 a.m. for training. When light rail opens, I’ll not only get to all my classes in less than an hour, I’ll finally catch up on my sleep. Awesome!”
“Instead of 25 minutes, getting to work at the UW Medical Center will be a four-minute ride from Capitol Hill. And downtown and the airport are just three blocks away by light rail. Woo Hoo!”
“I’m so excited to finally see light rail becoming a reality. It will promote more foot traffic and exploration between neighborhoods. I suspect more people will leave their cars behind.”