Did you know Portland has three different commuter train lines? There’s TriMet's MAX Light Rail, the Portland Streetcar, and the Westside Express Service.
The MAX is the biggest and best-known system. Its five lines run to downtown from Gresham, Milwaukie, the airport, the Expo Center, and Hillsboro. It also has the longest hours — starting before 4 a.m. and ending after midnight. Stats: 60 miles, 97 stations.
Portland Streetcar runs on loops in the central city, connecting commuters and residents downtown and along the east side. It runs every weekday 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with slightly shorter hours on the weekends. Stats: 16 miles of track around the central city.
Westside Express Service (or WES) is an unusual rail line that provides a link between suburbs — Beaverton to Wilsonville, with Tigard and Tualatin in between. It was built along an old railway system, some of which carried passenger trains back in the day. It runs weekdays (mornings and evenings) for traditional commuting hours. Stats: 14.7 miles, 5 stations.
You can travel all of them on a TriMet fare, though the streetcar also has its own tickets if you prefer.
