Free rides on North Bay’s SMART trains on opening day

The SMART train as it prepares to leave the Petaluma train station en-route to the San Rafael station on a demonstration run on Wednesday June 28, 2017 in Petaluma, Ca. The SMART train as it prepares to leave the Petaluma train station en-route to the San Rafael station on a demonstration run on Wednesday June 28, 2017 in Petaluma, Ca. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Free rides on North Bay’s SMART trains on opening day 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The start of the Bay Area’s newest transit system on Friday is sure to draw a crowd eager to celebrate the return of passenger train service to the North Bay for the first time in 59 years.

Officials for Sonoma-Marin Area Transit, or SMART, will host opening-day festivities at 9 a.m. at Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square station. There will be speeches and a traditional ribbon cutting.

Anyone hoping to be among the system’s first passengers will have to get to Sonoma County Airport station by 12:49 p.m., when the first train departs as part of the regular afternoon schedule. SMART officials anticipate a big crowd for that run, and all others that run afterward through the rest of the day.

Friday marks the first time since 1958 that the North Bay will have passenger train service, and rides will be free. Starting Saturday, and continuing through Sept. 4 — Labor Day — fares will be half off. After that, regular fares will kick in — $3.50 to $11.50, depending on distance traveled.

Here are some other things readers may want to know about SMART:

When can I ride?

SMART will operate seven days a week.

On weekdays, the first southbound train will depart the Sonoma County Airport station at 4:19 a.m. followed by seven more until 9:49 a.m. Southbound afternoon trains will start at 12:49 p.m. and continue until 6:49 p.m.

Morning service for northbound trains will begin their runs at 5:59 a.m. from downtown San Rafael and end at 11:29 a.m. In the afternoon, the first northbound train will depart the downtown San Rafael Station at 2:29 p.m., with the last leaving at 8:35 p.m.

Weekend trains will run southbound between 10:13 a.m. and 7:23 p.m. and northbound from 11:52 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.

Full schedules can be viewed online at www.sonomamarintrain.org/schedules-fares.

Where does the service go?

For now, SMART has 10 stations. Starting at the north, and heading south, they are: Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa North, Santa Rosa Downtown, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma Downtown, Novato San Marin, Novato Hamilton, Marin Civic Center and San Rafael. Two more stations are under construction: Petaluma North and Novato Downtown.

Are we there yet?

That depends on where you’re going, of course. From end to end (Sonoma County airport to downtown San Rafael), the 43-mile trip is scheduled to take 1 hour and 7 minutes. Downtown Santa Rosa to Marin Civic Center should take 49 minutes. Downtown San Rafael to downtown Petaluma? 31 minutes.

How do I pay my fare?

In most cases, SMART will require payment with a Clipper card. Riders must tap their card against a reader on the platform before entering and after exiting a train. One-time riders without Clipper cards, or those who want to buy multiple tickets, can download an app and purchase electronic tickets. More information is available at www.sonomamarintrain.org/node/91.

Can I eat and drink on the train?

Food and drink will be allowed. Food and beverages, ranging from coffee and pastries to beer and wine, will be sold at an on-board cafe. Much of the cafe fare will be from local sources, SMART officials say. Riders will be prohibited from bringing booze on the train.

What about bikes?

Bikes are permitted aboard trains as long as there’s room. Each two-car train, SMART’s standard length, has room for 24 two-wheelers, though opening day crowds may make it hard to squeeze that many, if any, aboard. Each SMART station will have electronic bike lockers.

Do stations offer parking?

Some of SMART’s stations have limited parking available while others are close to public parking facilities. More information: www.sonomamarintrain.org/stations

Can I take the train to and from the ferry?

Not yet, but starting Sept. 2, Golden Gate Transit will run the Wave shuttle between SMART’s San Rafael Station and the Larkspur ferry terminal. The service is free for SMART passengers, and shuttles, timed to make the trip as seamless as possible, will meet most but not all of the trains. Plans are in the works to bring the trains closer to the ferry. See the next item.

Are there plans to expand?

Yes. SMART’s original plan, approved by voters in 2008, called for trains to run between Cloverdale and Larkspur but the quarter-cent sales tax that went along with it wasn’t enough to cover the costs. So, SMART officials decided to build the system in phases.

Next up, and already funded, is an extension to within walking distance of the Larkspur ferry terminal. It’s supposed to open by 2019. After that, SMART plans to extend north to Windsor, and officials are seeking funding for that plan. Cloverdale and Healdsburg are still in SMART’s sights but no timelines have been set.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan