The six minutes saved with the by-pass, doesn't preclude saving six minutes here, and six more minutes there.

What I haven't seen is any evidence of market research that shows, passengers would give up the scenery to save the six minutes.

Yep, the tunnel is a choke point, but it's more of a freight choke point than passenger, and BNSF is making changes that route some traffic off the Seattle sub altogether.

Finally, the six minute savings is based on a specific speed on the By-Pass. I wonder how long that speed will hold up when people start dying at grade crossing incidents and people crossing the tracks (where only 10 mph trains have roamed). The first thing that will be pointed to, is that the trains are going too fast.