Riders on the Utah Transit Authority's new FrontRunner commuter rail service can expect to find a friendly face, a helper and a source of information at every stop on the new transit system.

Station hosts will be available on every station platform to guide passengers on boarding procedures, assist riders who need help getting on or off trains and be available to answer any questions about the new service.

Andres Alarcon is a UTA rail operations supervisor involved with training the new agents. He said the station hosts will be the face of the company on the new FrontRunner trains.

"The major duty of the station hosts is public relations," Alarcon said. "They'll facilitate communication between riders and UTA ... schedules, how to ride safely, fares, any kind of delays, etc."

Alarcon said his agency found, in looking at other rail transit systems around the country, that customer service was one area in which many systems were dropping the ball. The new station hosts — 20 currently in training and seven who will be hired — are preparing to make sure this is not an issue for FrontRunner.

Carolyn Guymon is one of the hosts-in-training and is a railroad veteran, having worked for the historic Heber Valley Railroad. Guymon, who lives in Kamas, said she heard about the job from friends who work for UTA and encouraged her to apply. She said she is excited about the upcoming start of service and thinks riders are in for a treat.

"These trains are awesome," Guymon said. "They're just like the big ones ... smooth, quiet ... I think it's going to be a great addition."

Chuck Pierce is training with Guymon (they'll both be working out of the Woods Cross station) and sharpened his customer service skills working as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Salt Lake City for 38 years. Pierce, who lives in Bountiful and is retired from the post office, said he missed working and, in particular, missed meeting new people. He, too, thinks that FrontRunner will surprise people.

"I like to call it riding in the fast lane," Pierce said. "Where else can you get on the Internet, sit back and relax and watch the traffic go by."

Pierce and Guymon are two weeks into their program, which Alarcon described as a series of modules to prepare them for the job. The new hosts will be prepared to answer operations questions, are trained in assisting passengers in wheelchairs, will be in constant contact with UTA's operation center via two-way radio and will work to make new riders' experience "as good as it can be."

UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware said service is still on schedule to begin on April 26 and will coincide with the start of service of the TRAX Salt Lake intermodal line, connecting the FrontRunner station with UTA's TRAX service to the University of Utah, Salt Lake City and destinations south of the city. Further information on FrontRunner commuter rail service can be found at www.rideuta.com.

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E-mail: araymond@desnews.com