Capital Metro reports 2,942 people rode the Red Line on the first day. A total of 716 rode in the morning, 2,226 rode in the afternoon.
It doesn't cost you a thing to ride Capital Metro's Red Line this first week, so it's understandable that day one drew curiosity seekers as well as serious commuters.
The lure of the Red Line was impossible for many to pass up.
"It's exciting I mean I was waiting for us to get this and I feel we are part of a real metropolitan city now," said Clarence Fagins, a South Austin resident.
Ann and Gerald Campbell drove all the way from Giddings. They've witnessed the start ups to the Dallas, Houston and Denver rail systems and wanted to see how the red line measured up.
"My husband has loved trains for years," said Ann Campbell.
"I'm 70 years old so probably 69 years," said Gerald Campbell.
Overwhelmed with even more of a sense of history was Kathy Howell. One hundred years ago, her great grandmother used to take the train with her family from the old Leander station to Austin to shop. Upon their return they would ride their horses back to their home outside Leander.
"I kept thinking about how different the world is now. We're literally on the same tracks that they traveled, but the view that we have is completely different," said Howell, who still lives in Leander.
Back to the future.
"The train is gorgeous, I've been on multiple trains around the world and this one is by far and A+ in my book," said Colby Turner, a South Austin resident.
There were some minor criticisms.
"It's smaller than I thought it would be and when the train was packed. We'll have to see how everyday use happens," said Lisa Byrd.
"I'm hoping that it gets used enough to where they can extend the times and maybe have it later on in the evening," said Kristi Shaw, who lives in East Austin.
"With an expanded schedule I will use it a lot more and I really look forward to going out downtown and take the midnight train home," said Turner.
