South Bellevue Station will be the southern terminus of the East Link Starter Line. Start riding April 27. (Ryan Packer)

On April 27, East Link begins service! Join us to celebrate this momentous occasion.

It’s been nearly 16 years since voters approved the Sound Transit 2 (ST2) ballot measure to expand our light rail system. Starting Saturday, April 27, trains will finally reach the Eastside via the East Link Starter Line (the 2 Line) serving eight stations between Bellevue and Redmond. 

Construction issues mean the 2 Line won’t cross Lake Washington to connect with the 1 Line in Seattle until late 2025, but for now it will offer a new transit option for the Eastside.

If you’ve been waiting for this as long as we have, please join us to celebrate, ride the train, and come hang out at our afterparty at Goose Pub for beverages and food with fellow fans of The Urbanist! We’ve fought to make this transit improvement happen. Now let’s reap the rewards!

The 8 stations that start service on April 27, bringing light rail to the Eastside, will see modest ridership but serve as a solid starting point to get riders used to thinking about utilizing light rail for certain trips. (Sound Transit)

The festivities start with the official ribbon-cutting at Downtown Bellevue Station (opposite City Hall) at 10:00am. The trains will begin running at 11:00am. Be among the first to ride the new line and then hop off at the Wilburton Station to join us at The Goose Pub & Eatery, 12001 NE 12th Street, Bellevue WA 98005. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the station. We’ll be hanging out from noon until around 3pm, so come by either before or after your ride(s). Grab a tasty lunch and a piece of celebratory cake.

The Goose Pub and Eatery is just east of Lake Bellevue. (U.S. Geological Survey)

Feel free to come by non-train modes as well, like walking or biking along Eastrail or taking the Rapid Ride B from the downtown Bellevue Transit Station or points further east.

Please RSVP so we know how many people to expect. Hope to see you on April 27 in Bellevue!

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The Urbanist staff occasionally teams up to cover breaking news or tackle large projects. See more about our team on the staff page.