Utah Transit Authority officials are hailing today as a day of success for FrontRunner, the just-opened commuter rail line between Ogden and Salt Lake City.

Following the train's grand opening Saturday, UTA has been offering fare-free days, which continue through Wednesday.

The premium monthly fare of $145, which includes bus and TRAX service, begins Thursday.

Carrie Bohnsack-Ware, a UTA spokeswoman, said that during today's morning commute, 500 to 600 people per train were arriving at the Salt Lake City Central Station.

As of noon, about 5,000 people had ridden the train today.

"It's better than expected today," Bohnsack-Ware said.

UTA has estimated that once fare service begins Thursday, 5,900 riders will use FrontRunner each weekday. By 2020, that number is expected to be 12,900.

When UTA's light rail line, TRAX, opened for business in Salt Lake City in 1999, officials expected 15,000 people to ride daily with an increase to 25,000 per day after a few years. Now, 40,000 to 50,000 people ride TRAX each day.

By 7 a.m. today, the parking lot at the Layton station was filled, Bohnsack-Ware said, though that's likely because the train is free today. Most stations have parking lot expansion plans for the future.

Train service is also planned for Pleasant View, but because of a landslide in Oregon, the rail crews in Utah were called on to dig out train tracks there, pushing back rail service for Pleasant View.

Until that service begins, a free shuttle to the Ogden station is available for residents who would normally board in Pleasant View.

More information is available at www.rideuta.com.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com