Amtrak Training To Cause Delays At Railroad Crossings This Summer

LAKEWOOD, WA — Amtrak is asking for patience as they prepare for a major training exercise that is likely to cause delays for some commuters next month.

According to Sound Transit, Amtrak's training will run from June 1 to July 25. During that time, Amtrak will be running crew qualifications training on the tracks that run parallel to I-5 all the way from Tacoma, through Lakewood and JBLM to DuPont.

Not only does that mean drivers will see extra activity on or near the tracks, but trains will be running at high speeds from the Tacoma Dome station to the Nisqually Junction, which in turn could cause some delays at railroad crossings in the area.

Training will run from 8 p.m. Tuesdays to 3 p.m. the following Wednesdays, as well as from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. During those hours, Sound Transit says to expect delays at the following signal crossings:

• South 74th St.
• Steilacoom Blvd Southwest.
• 100th Street Southwest.
• 108th Street Southwest
• Bridgeport Way Southwest.
• Clover Creek Drive Southwest.
• 41st Division Drive.
• Steilacoom Road in DuPont.

Organizers say the tests are necessary to prepare for later this year, when Amtrak Cascades resumes service to the Point Defiance Bypass.