Seattle Airport Train - is it safe?

[rapister]

to go to downtown, you take it from Sea-tac to Westland, 

which is pretty near to the infamous Pine street area

 

Additionally, some cruisers have seen some undesirable and dodgy people in the train and around the stations.

 

Is it really unsafe? Would I be better off with a taxi or Uber?

 

Thank you for your advice 

[psuboater]

The short answer is yes, it’s safe.  It’s Westlake station which drops you off in the middle of a hotel and retail core. 
 

Seattle has upped their transit team who are checking valid tickets and escorting those who shouldn’t be on the train off at the next stop. 
 

However, if you’re not used to city life and have a low comfort level of these types of things, an Uber might be your best bet. In rush hour, taking the light rail is a no brainer - under $3 vs $50+ and it will get you to where you need around the same time when there’s a traffic jam. 
 

3rd and Pine is the area you’re referring to. As someone who works downtown I don’t seek that area out (although it is close to the market) but I don’t freak out if I find myself there. Then again I’ve lived in downtown Philadelphia and Columbus so Seattle to me can be “unpleasant” at most where other areas in my other cities maxed out at a “don’t want to get killed” level. The city is very concious of optics during cruise season, and we tend to see less events while we’re doing our cruise hosting. Even so, I’d be fine to walk there in December as long as I practiced street smarts. 
 

As a reference, I am a woman under 40 and I normally take the light rail when I can. However, if I was landing late at night (10pm+)  I’d probably just take an Uber. 

Edited April 16 by psuboater

[julia]

We have used the Seattle light rail often, and find it convenient and cost effective. When exiting (up to street level) at WestLake, you will encounter homelessness, it's inevitable. Just go about your business quickly, and you will be fine.

[9tee2Sea]

if you qualify for Senior rates, its only 1 or 2 dollars .  Keep your ticket handy incase the fare inspectors come thru and ask for it.

[memoak]

It is safe and affordable but also really slow in my opinion   We come up from Portland on Amtrak SeaTac is really pretty far away from the city

 

Edited April 17 by memoak

[Northern Aurora]

We have used the Seattle light rail many times through the years, and have always felt comfortable.

[NengEuis]

The only Link station I think people should avoid if you can is Pioneer Square. I usually get off at University Street Station (if I'm going to the ferry or waterfront) or Westlake if I've got time to kill downtown and just want to walk around. The experience is different every time. I never feel unsafe riding in the daytime, even when by myself. 

[jeromep]

We rode the light rail from the King Street Station area back to SeaTac when we were in Seattle for our cruise last July.  Public transit isn't quick.

 

The back story is that we were staying at a SeaTac area hotel.  We got tickets for a Mariner's game, so we took an Uber from the hotel to the stadium.  That was like $50 including tip, and it was surge pricing.  After the game we walked to 13 Coins for dinner.  The whole stadium area of SODO and the edge of Pioneer Square were full of people on account of the Mariner's game getting out and a Sounders Game going on at the same time.  After dinner we debated about how to get back to the hotel.  More Uber surge pricing, it was like $65 to get back to the hotel.  However the light rail station was near the restaurant and it was like $6/person for a ticket.  So we opted for the light rail and then a short walk from the SeaTac station to the hotel.

 

Well, we encountered the requisite homeless or possibly just addicted persons near the light rail station.  Got our tickets at the kiosk, in which the general area of the upper level had a strong smell of urine.  We then went downstairs to the southbound platform.  There were a few "curious" people on the platform, but more of us were normal passengers or commuters so it wasn't too uncomfortable.  The train finally arrived and we did "eenie meenie miney mo" to pick a train car to be on.  Well, the particular train car we gambled on seemed dirtier than usual, and on top of that for about half our ride there was some dude bopping around and talking to himself, but he got off a few stops before SeaTac and we all breathed a sigh of relief.  At the SeaTac station you had a mix of air travelers coming and going and some more seriously odd folks hanging about.  It is a long way down to street level from the SeaTac station, so we took the elevator.  Again, another place with a funky smell that shouldn't smell that way, and we were dumped out near a couple of International Blvd. hotels.  Then the walk home.

 

I'm not convinced I'd do the light rail again.  I think I'll stick with Uber/Lyft.