Thanks to reader Scott for the picture

What was up is now down at Capitol Hill Station. But it’s not Sound Transit messing with you. It’s maintenance.

Reader Scott writes:

This morning, the up and down escalators at the north platform entrance of the Link station are switched–you ride up and down on the left side now. There didn’t seem to be any obvious reason why, but I thought it was weird and worth noting.

CHS reported on the surprising station escalator switcheroos in 2016 that came as riders were still getting used to the new transit station.

“If you only run an escalator one direction it can get so it only runs that direction and will wear out faster,” Sound Transit said at the time.

This march, CHS marked the five year anniversary of Capitol Hill Station. Escalators, unfortunately, have been a bigger part of the story of the facility and Sound Transit’s light rail service than you might have expected. 2020 began with the opening of a new stair route inside the station to provide an alternative when the cranky escalators break down.

The newest stations, fortunately, aren’t as escalator-focused.

As for the periodic Capitol Hill Station escalator switches, embrace the change — and maybe hold onto the handrail.

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