No train traffic is in sight on this October day at
Beaverton Transit Center. Two of the three tracks available to MAX are
visible in this scene. The sky is handsomely blue, with clouds off to
the east hinting at an autumn storm that has recently passed through.
TriMet entered the commuter rail business early in 2009. A line
nearly fifteen miles long has its terminal platform to the south of light rail, and
beyond the adjacent bus
connections. It runs to and from the southern suburb of Wilsonville,
peak weekday periods only. The route utilizes a freight rail right of way, still in
operation. The Westside
Express Service (nicknamed WES) is a rare case of commuter rail that
does not serve the urban area's center
city. |
