Capital Metro commuter rail was delayed Wednesday when officials decided to hold off opening the rail system until March 2009.

The trains were supposed to start carrying passengers this fall.

Capital Metro staff recommended to the board to delay the opening until late March to make sure everything works. Board members were in full agreement. Capital Metro board chairman Margaret Gomez says she's been waiting to announce a start date.

"I think this will be a wonderful experience for people especially in these times when the price of gas has gone up," Gomez said.

Nearly a year behind schedule, the 32-mile rail line stretches from the Austin Convention Center in downtown Austin to Leander, northwest of Austin.

The project has been met with holdups. The transit agency had to find new location for both the Howard Lane and Kramer Lane stations. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by March 2009.

Then there were federal safety concerns.

"We were able to get together with them and communicate very clearly what we were doing and why," said Gomez. "And then made a few adjustments."

One of the adjustments made was to design and install a steel cage to surround the fuel tanks on the six rail car tanks.

Despite all the delays and not being able to meet its year end target date, the senior director of rail operations says he doesn't blame anyone.

"Sooner is always better, but you really would rather wait and open it when it's in full session," said Bill Lejeune.

The rail will go online March 30, with events at all the stations leading up to the day.