EDITOR’S NOTE: Through the end of this year, the Tacoma Daily Index will feature its annual “Year In Review” series, which recaps an important story covered earlier this year in the newspaper according to reader interest on our Web site. Enjoy!

Sound Transit celebrated the start of service to Lakewood and South Tacoma with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sat., Oct. 6 at the Lakewood, South Tacoma and Tacoma Dome stations. Free rides on the Sounder train were offered to the public, along with other festivities.

The service officially began on Mon., Oct. 8.

“The start of Sounder service to South Tacoma and Lakewood marks an exciting milestone in the work of Sound Transit to bring commuter rail to more communities in Pierce County,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “More South Sound residents will be able to experience the convenient, first-class service that more than 10,000 Sounder riders from Tacoma to Everett enjoy each weekday.”

Beginning with the new service, Sound Transit started operating five peak-service trains that originate at the Lakewood Station, stop at South Tacoma, and proceed to the Tacoma Dome station and other stations further north. The first northbound train leaves Lakewood at 4:42 a.m. The first afternoon train to Lakewood leaves King Street Station at 4:20 p.m. Morning and evening trains leave every 25 minutes.

Departure schedules for other south line Sounder stations remain unchanged.

Service to Lakewood and South Tacoma also includes Sound Transit’s popular game day trains, which served more than 132,000 Seahawks, Mariners and Sounders FC fans last year. This fall, Sounder event trains will also serve Husky weekend afternoon games taking place at CenturyLink Field.

“The Sounder extension to Lakewood is a significant achievement that represents years of meticulous planning and hard work,” said Sound Transit Boardmember and Lakewood City Councilmember Mary Moss. “The support Sound Transit has received from its federal partners, local jurisdictions, and surrounding communities has made possible the realization of a longstanding vision: to extend commuter rail service further south so more people can enjoy the benefits of riding Sounder.”

More information on the Sounder extension to Lakewood is available online at soundtransit.org/soundertolakewood.