It's really not a launch, more of a day of preview rides for the public. They were doing this a long time ago, on a more limited basis, but had some difficulty with the FRA and stopped. Today appears the only day with a lot of trains. They are running three trains to the Marin County Fair on Saturday and Tuesday evenings, too.

The slightly big deal that has been glossed over by this preview ride hysteria is the fact that the month or so of free rides for the commuters who will ultimately be the patrons of this train--this free ride period, which was widely marketed in the press by SMART's PR staff over the last six months, has been cancelled without any fanfare. Now fares will be half-price until Labor Day.

Here are today's schedules:





[sonomamarintrain.org]