Seattle Railway Station on the Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer Departure City Seattle, Washington State

Seattle Railway Station

King Street Station is a train station in Seattle, Washington, United States.

King Street Station consists of ten tracks and four platforms, including one that is used by Sounder commuter trains and connected via a pedestrian bridge on South Weller Street. The remaining platforms, accessed from the station's waiting room, are used for Amtrak services and special event trains, including Rocky Mountaineer Railroad and the Rocky Mountaineer's Coastal Passage excursion trains.

King Street Station is served by Amtrak's Cascades, Coast Starlight, and Empire Builder, as well as Sounder commuter trains run by Sound Transit. The station also anchors a major transit hub, which includes Link light rail at International District/Chinatown station and Seattle Streetcar service. It is located at the south end of Downtown Seattle in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, near the intersection of South Jackson Street and 4th Avenue South, and has four major entrances. It is the 15th busiest station on the Amtrak system, serving as the hub for the Pacific Northwest region.

Opened on May 10, 1906, it served as a union station for the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway, both owned by James J. Hill. The station was designed by Reed and Stem and incorporated elements from various architectural styles, including a prominent clock tower inspired by St Mark's Campanile in Venice. A second city terminal, Union Station, was built one block to the east and opened in 1911. As passenger train service declined in the mid-20th century, King Street Station fell into disrepair and was renovated several times to conceal interior elements in the name of modernization. It was selected as Amtrak's sole Seattle station in 1971 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places two years later. Commuter rail service began in 2000 from a new platform and pedestrian bridge at South Weller Street. King Street Station was acquired by Seattle's city government in 2008 and was renovated in 2013 at a cost of $55 million, restoring its original fixtures.

Address of Seattle Railway Station: 

Seattle Railway Station
303 South Jackson Street
Seattle,
Washington
United States

W Coordinates: 47°35′54″N 122°19′47″W

History of Seattle Railway Station

King Street Station is a public asset and an important part of Seattle's history. For over 110 years, it has improved connections, serving as a gateway for millions of travelers coming into Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The station has spurred economic growth and helped establish Seattle as a major metropolitan city. Today, over 2.7 million passengers a year use King Street Station to board Amtrak trains, Sounder commuter trains, and Amtrak Thruway intercity bus services to get into and out of Seattle. It includes convenient connections to Sound Transit commuter rail, local buses and regional buses, Sound Transit Link light rail, and the First Hill Seattle Streetcar.

King Street Station first opened to the public in May 1906. Reed and Stem, the architectural firm responsible for New York City's historic Grand Central Terminal, designed the station. The San Marco bell tower of Venice, Italy, served as the model for the building's familiar clock tower. The structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

King Street Station, located on Jackson St between 3rd and 4th Ave S, is a brick and granite three-story building with a twelve-story clock tower. The ground floor, accessed from King St, is clad in granite. The walls of the second and third floors, as well as the clock tower, are faced in pressed brick with decorative terra cotta elements such as cornices and window lintels.

The interior boasts a grand waiting room with ornamental plaster ceilings and fluted Corinthian columns. Bronze chandeliers and wall sconces provide illumination for the passengers inside the station. The terrazzo floor has inlaid square mosaic tiles.  This creates a compass shaped pattern at the station entrance and other rectangular patterns throughout the rest of the areas.

While much of the exterior of King Street Station remained intact since the building was constructed in 1906, parts of the interior were substantially altered in a series of renovations in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s and others suffered neglect.  In February 2008, the City of Seattle purchased the landmark building from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company t(for $10!) with the goal of bringing back the grandeur of America's Gilded Age. The restoration of King Street Station ensured that it remains a critical transportation hub and gateway into Seattle for the next hundred years.

Now Seattle is transforming King Street Station into a hub for arts and culture. SDOT, in partnership with ARTS and the Office of Economic Development, will create a dynamic space for arts and culture in the heart of the city.

Previous Names of Railway companies using this station:

Amtrak Railroad
Rocky Mountaineer Railroad
Via Rail

Railway Services from Seattle Railway Station:

Things to do in Seattle, Washington State when you get off the Rocky Mountineeer

Welcome to Seattle!

Seattle’s moderate climate and natural features beckon to you to get out there!

When the sun comes out, Seattle’s outdoor-oriented culture shines, which means that adventurous activities, many within city limits, are bountiful. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the unique mix of urban adventure Seattle has to offer:

Days out in Seattle

Hiking around Seattle parks

Seattle isn’t only a hustling, bustling urban metropolis. It’s also home to some of the nation’s best and wildest parks, perfect for leisurely strolls or vigorous hikes. Two of our largest parks, Discovery Park and Seward Park offer particularly beautiful hiking opportunities that will satisfy even the most avid of trekkers.

Seattle’s largest park, Discovery Park, covers 534-acres in the Magnolia neighborhood along the shores of Puget Sound. Visitors can hike it’s more than 11 miles of trails through meadows and forest, eventually winding down to both a north and south beach, with an iconic lighthouse bisecting the two. Plus, if you keep your eyes peeled along the shore, you just might spot a whale breeching or a local harbor seal poking its head above the water’s surface.

Located southeast of Seattle’s downtown, along the west edge of Lake Washington, Seward Park boasts more than 300 acres of beautiful forest land with miles of hiking trails that wind through old-growth forest. Come down out of the woods on any side of the park and you’ll be greeted by lapping waves nearly surrounding the park. Bald eagles are plentiful here, so be sure to look up whenever you can!

Paddling in Seattle - Kayak in Seattle

Getting out on the water in Seattle is easy: whether you want to be out on our salt-water Elliott Bay or Puget Sound or in our fresh-water Lake Union or Lake Washington, you’ll find a facility to help you make it happen.

• Ballard Kayak – Located just 10 minutes from downtown and within walking distance of the Ballard Locks, we offer Seattle stand-up paddleboard (SUP) and kayak rentals by the hour.
• Alki Kayak Tours – Our paddleboard and kayak tours explore the wilder side of Puget Sound as we scout for curious seals and observe nesting bald eagles perched above the “birthplace of Seattle.”
• Crystal Seas Kayaking – Crystal Seas Kayaking specializes in guided 3-hour, full-day, sunset and multi-day kayaking and multi-sport trips in Washington’s sunny San Juan Islands – mid March through mid October.
• Northwest Outdoor Center – We rent paddleboards and kayaks (single, double & triple) from our docks outside our door on Lake Union.
• Agua Verde Paddle Club – Head towards Lake Union for views of the city, houseboats, and Gas Works Park – or venture through the UW Arboretum to paddle the water trails and check out the local flora and fauna.
• Moss Bay – Moss Bay Row, Kayak, Sail and Paddle Board Center provides year round boating opportunities near the heart of downtown Seattle.