Light rail service on Sound Transit’s 2 Line between South Bellevue and Spring District stations was suspended early Tuesday after trains lost power.
An alert from Sound Transit was issued shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday, notifying riders that trains had unexpectedly stopped running because of a power issue. Officials said inspectors are examining the overhead catenary system, which supplies electricity to the trains.
There is no indication of copper wire theft, and the cause of the outage has not yet been identified, agency spokesperson Henry Bendon said to The Seattle Times. Sound Transit does not have an estimated time for when service will resume.
Eight shuttle buses have been deployed to operate between South Bellevue and Spring District stations to maintain service along the affected segment. Trains continue running between Downtown Redmond and the Spring District.
Practice runs across Lake Washington between South Bellevue and International District/Chinatown stations have also been suspended. Officials said those runs are expected to resume once inspections and any necessary repairs on the 2 Line are completed.
Impact Ahead of Crosslake Connection Opening
The service disruption comes weeks before the scheduled March 28 opening of the Bellevue-to-Seattle light rail segment across Lake Washington, known as the Crosslake Connection.
As of Feb. 14, Sound Transit had begun its final testing phase, referred to as simulated service, for the upcoming expansion. During this phase, trains operate on the full future schedule along the entire 2 Line route — from Downtown Redmond through Bellevue and across Lake Washington into Seattle and north toward Lynnwood.
The Crosslake Connection will mark the first direct light rail link between Seattle and the Eastside across Lake Washington. The new segment adds approximately 7.4 miles of track and includes new stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park.
Once service officially begins, travel time between South Bellevue Station and International District/Chinatown Station is expected to be about 13 minutes, providing a faster option for commuters traveling into Seattle.
2 Line Expansion and Regional Integration
For Bellevue residents, the fully operational 2 Line will continue serving major destinations including downtown Bellevue, the Spring District, the Microsoft campus, Marymoor Park, and Downtown Redmond. The expansion is expected to strengthen regional access to employment centers, entertainment districts, and additional transit connections.
The first segment of the 2 Line opened in April 2024 between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station. Additional stations in downtown Redmond opened in May 2025. In preparation for full cross-lake service, Sound Transit has spent months testing trains across the Interstate 90 bridge to prepare operators and systems.
When complete, the Crosslake Connection will integrate the 1 Line and 2 Line into a continuous regional route and expand the light rail system to more than 63 miles.
Officials have not yet announced when full service between South Bellevue and the Spring District will be restored.
