All Aboard The SMART Train! Thousands Take Free Preview Rides

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Thousands of North Bay residents flocked to SMART train stations this past weekend, eager to experience historic preview excursions. The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit agency provided free rides on the sleek, green-and-silver trains equipped with everything from comfortable seats -- with wifi and electrical outlets at most seats -- to on-board snack service, wheelchair accessibility and some vertical bicycle storage.

Richard Thomsen, who lives near the Santa Rosa Airport platform and was on the first train leaving southbound at 8 a.m. Sunday, said the SMART train ride is "smoother then BART -- that is for sure." He did point out that Bay Area Rapid Transit is a much older system.

All along the 43-mile stretch from the Santa Rosa Airport station to the downtown San Rafael destination, each of the 10 platforms were packed with riders excited to take the commuter train for a spin.

Eventually, the SMART system will extend south to the Larkspur Landing and the Larkspur Ferry, and to Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale to the north, completing the 70-mile plan.

However, Daniel Boynton, 31, was one person not willing to wait for the expansion. He decided to take an early-morning southbound train to San Rafael, then take a Golden Gate transit bus at the San Rafael Transit hub terminal right next to the SMART platform and head into San Francisco to catch a Muni in order to get to AT&T Park for a 1 p.m. SF Giants baseball game Sunday. He said the round trip cost about $25, but the SMART portion was free for now.

The first train that left the Santa Rosa Airport at 8 a.m. had plenty of room, but by the time it picked up passengers in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Cotati, there was standing room as it arrived in Novato.

The trains were packed during the rest of the day Sunday, with many passengers grabbing bites to eat from the small on-board snack counter, the Buzz, which offers coffee, pastries, chips, drinks, water and chips.

Bonita Gordon, of Santa Rosa, was among the hundreds of train enthusiasts who braved the crowds from downtown Santa Rosa to San Rafael. She added that her grandfather worked on the rail line many years ago.

One person who missed the train was Robert North, formerly of Healdsburg, who now lives in Manhattan, New York. He stood waiting on the Santa Rosa Airport platform late Saturday afternoon, puzzled why the southbound train had not arrived. A veteran of the New York subway system, he misread the online schedule. After missing the train, he got back into his convertible and drove to San Rafael to meet with friends.

But, 5-year-old Crosby Lombardo, of Windsor, who had his father, Rich Lombardo, in tow, climbed aboard the 8 a.m. southbound train from the airport station Sunday for his first-ever train ride.

Carol "Red" Parker was one of the SMART ambassadors who was at the San Rafael station assisting and answering questions for riders. There were ambassadors available at all stops during the weekend.

As the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system waits for approval to begin providing full service, more preview rides are scheduled starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 13, Saturday, July 15, Sunday, July 16, Wednesday, July 19, Saturday, July 22 and and Sunday, July 23. Catching the early train is advised. Also, beware of parking limitations at the Santa Rosa Airport station; however, Rohnert Park, Cotati and Hamilton stations appeared to have ample parking. However, downtown Santa Rosa requires paid parking if found and parking is non-existent at the San Rafael station, although there is a parking lot about three blocks away.

For more information, go to Sonomamarintrain.org/smart-preview, visit Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit's Facebook page, or call 707-794-3330 during business hours.

Article and photos by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com