Copper Wire Thieves Disrupt Sound Transit's 1 Line Again

Repeated thefts raise concerns about the vulnerability of the region's light rail system.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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For the second time in recent days, copper wire thieves have disrupted Sound Transit's 1 Line near Federal Way, Washington, triggering service disruptions that lasted into the morning commute. The incident comes on the heels of an earlier theft that temporarily knocked out power to a stretch of the line ahead of the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory parade.

Why it matters

Copper wire theft has increasingly targeted public infrastructure across Washington, with utilities reporting a crisis-level number of incidents. The repeated disruptions to Sound Transit's 1 Line raise broader questions about the resilience and security of the region's light rail system.

The details

Thieves snatched copper wiring on Thursday night, forcing Sound Transit to run bus shuttles between affected stations until full rail service was restored just before 11 am on Friday. Sound Transit says it continues to add cameras and increase monitoring along the 1 Line corridor around Federal Way, but some incidents have been "extremely brazen." The agency has faced similar problems on other lines, with CEO Dow Constantine pledging increased security measures.

  • On Thursday night, thieves stole copper wiring, disrupting service.
  • Service was restored just before 11 am on Friday.

The players

Sound Transit

The regional transit authority that operates the 1 Line light rail system in the Seattle metropolitan area.

Dow Constantine

The CEO of Sound Transit who has pledged increased security measures to address copper wire theft incidents.

Rep. Cindy Ryu

A Washington state legislator sponsoring a bill to address the resale market that fuels copper wire theft.

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What they’re saying

“Some recent incidents have been extremely brazen, including tampering with wires while trains are in service.”

— Amy Enbysk, Transit spokesperson (kvi.com)

What’s next

The Sound Transit Board is scheduled to meet on February 26, where members are expected to discuss the recent string of copper wire incidents and what more can be done to keep the region's rail system running.

The takeaway

The repeated disruptions to Sound Transit's 1 Line due to copper wire theft highlight the vulnerability of the region's public infrastructure and the need for stronger security measures and legislative action to address this growing criminal activity.