Public gets chance to ride Northstar trains

The Northstar Commuter Rail line between the Twin Cities and Central Minnesota is ready to roll.

Riders hopped on the new trains today for the ceremonial first trips. And there were parties at each station.

At the Anoka station, the Anoka Halloween committee served up bowls of chili while those hoping to be passengers waited in line, some for more than an hour, to get free tickets to ride.

One couple brought their three kids after their three-year-old son saw a picture of the train in the paper and asked to go.

Others, who got their tickets ahead of time through an online lottery, enjoyed the festivities including local musicians inside a warm tent.

Hundreds also boarded trains at the stations in Big Lake, Elk River, Coon Rapids and Fridley too to enjoy a free ride all the way to Minneapolis.

Passenger Frankie Jordan has a dad who is a train engineer. He describes today's ride saying, "You know, it's just so cool. You start to feel that you're moving and everything. It's really fun."

Passenger Dennis Smolich of Fridley likes that there's a commuter train now. He still remembers streetcars. He says, "We used them all the time until the buses came in."

Smolich thinks the Northstar trains will be a great way for people to commute when regular service begins on Monday.

He says, "This is fabulous. This is great. Hopefully enough people will use it."

His wife, Carol Smolich, who doesn't drive often will take the train. She says with a smile, "This will be neat for me. When he's golfing in the summer, I can take the train downtown."

But not everyone will head downtown.

Sally Hellman of Fridley says, "I'm going to take this train up to Big Lake, get on the shuttle and I'm going to start seeing my aunt and uncle up in St. Cloud. I don't drive so this is really a nice, nice way to get around."

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was there to greet passengers when they arrived at Target Field Station in Minneapolis. Passengers checked out that station and then climbed back on the train for the ride back home.

Tickets for weekday commutes will range from $3.25 to $7 each way. There is a 10% discount for riders who use a Metro Transit Go-To card. Fares will be lower on weekends.

Each train will have five cars, including four passenger cars with three levels each. Those cars will each hold 140 people.

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