Monorail could reopen this week

The Seattle Center Monorail could reopen to passengers this week, after a pair of August stalls idled the 44-year-old trains.

No exact date has been set.

The one-mile, elevated train line completed a reliability test Sunday night by running on time under a normal schedule for five days, said Tedd Snyder, an engineer with Booz Allen Hamilton, who led a recent technical review.

He and Shelly Yapp, the redevelopment director for Seattle Center, both said this morning they consider the two trains ready to go.

City and monorail officials are eager to get the trains running in time to serve tourists and shoppers during the holiday season.

The monorail has been closed since a train stalled Aug. 19 with about 250 people aboard, requiring an evacuation.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com.