The first commuters to be picked up in Elk River and whisked away to their jobs in Minneapolis by a Northstar commuter rail  train will be picked up promptly at 5:10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16.

But first there will be some celebrations up and down the line starting Friday, Nov. 13, for more than 500 invited guests. The public will have its chance to wave at Northstar starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, at a grand opening event at the Elk River Station. See more in Editor Jim Boyle's Star News story.