Railroad Work Forces Suspension of Edmonds-Kingston Ferry Route Amid Post-Sick-Out Recovery

Key points

• The Edmonds-Kingston route is suspended from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday for BNSF railroad work that requires crossing arms to be down.
• Last sailings are 6:10 p.m. from Kingston and 7 p.m. from Edmonds; service resumes 9:35 a.m. from Kingston and 10:20 a.m. from Edmonds.
• This suspension follows a Monday shutdown where 23 engine-room employees called out sick, leaving 13 of 18 vessels out of service.
• Governor Bob Ferguson stated most ferry service was restored by Tuesday morning, though minor cancellations persisted due to residual staffing issues.
• Walk-on passengers are advised to use Kitsap Transit’s Kingston Fast Ferry to downtown Seattle as an alternative.

Background

This development occurs shortly after a significant service disruption on October 5, 2026, when 23 engine-room employees called out sick, causing 72% of Washington State Ferries routes to halt. Previous coverage noted that 13 of 18 boats were out of service, affecting major corridors like Seattle-Bainbridge and Anacortes-San Juans. Governor Ferguson had promised full restoration by Tuesday morning, which largely occurred, but the Edmonds-Kingston route faces a separate, pre-planned closure for railroad maintenance.

How outlets are covering it

KIRO Newsradio emphasizes that the Edmonds-Kingston closure was planned weeks ago for critical BNSF railroad work, noting the timing coincides with the aftermath of the engineer sick-out. KUOW highlights the broader context of the Monday disruption, citing Governor Ferguson’s statement that service was restored by Tuesday and his meeting with MEBA union leaders. The union described the sick-out as a 'frantic cry for help' due to chronic understaffing and excessive overtime, while WSF management blamed the union for causing harm to residents. KIRO notes that WSF explored ways to keep service but could not bypass the railroad work requirements.

Why it matters

The suspension affects commuters and residents in Edmonds and Kingston, requiring them to use alternative transit options like Kitsap Transit’s Kingston Fast Ferry. It highlights ongoing tensions between Washington State Ferries and its engine-room union, MEBA, over staffing levels and work conditions. The closure also underscores the logistical challenges of coordinating ferry operations with railroad infrastructure needs in Puget Sound.

What to watch

Service on the Edmonds-Kingston route is scheduled to resume Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. from Kingston and 10:20 a.m. from Edmonds, provided the railroad crossing reopens as planned. Washington State Ferries will continue to monitor staffing levels to ensure full operations across all routes, while the state may further address union-management tensions regarding wages and work conditions.