Dinner Train switching routes: Tacoma to Eatonville

The Spirit of Washington Dinner Train, which has carried diners from Renton to Woodinville since 1992, will move to a new route — Tacoma to Eatonville — starting Aug. 3.

Tacoma Rail's Mountain Division and Dinner Train owner Eric Temple signed a 10-month agreement for trial service Tuesday, the parties announced today. If successful, a 20-year contract may be negotiated.

The train will run its old route — to the Columbia Winery — for the last time July 31.

The Dinner Train was forced to look for a new route because BNSF Railway, owner of the current route, is selling its line and has agreed to let the state Department of Transportation tear down the existing rail bridge across Interstate 405 at the Wilburton Tunnel in order to widen the freeway.

King County officials, who are negotiating to acquire BNSF's 42-mile rail corridor from Renton to Snohomish, had been trying to work out a deal for the train to move to a new Woodinville-to-Snohomish route.

The Dinner Train's new 3 ½-hour round trip will start just south of the Freighthouse Square Station platform in Tacoma, heading south to Lake Kapowsin in Eatonville and returning to Tacoma.

"The past year has been quite tumultuous as we weighed options for relocation of the Dinner Train," Temple said in a statement. "We are extremely appreciative of Tacoma's willingness to act quickly and save this community gem."

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com