The first of a series of new rail services has begun running into the American "home" of country music – Nashville, Tennessee.
The train - called the Music City Star - starts at Lebanon and stops at six towns on the way to a waterfront station in Nashville. Commuters can then take free shuttle buses to complete the journey into central Nashville.
The route is expected to be the first "spoke" of a rail system that will run from suburban stations all round Nashville, like the spokes of a wheel. The 32-mile line took £20million to rebuild and will be shared with freight trains.
The stations at Martha, Mount Juliet, Hermitage and Donelson are basic stations without waiting rooms.
The double-deck trains were bought from the Chicago regional rail authority and were modernised with disabled passengers in mind.
The trains are now equipped to handle wheelchairs, and there is also room for commuters to bring their bicycles.
They will work as push-pull trains with ex-Amtrak locomotives. Each train can carry around 300 people.
The service is expected to run at a deficit of £1million a year which will be covered by local and central government grants.
"This is a milestone for the city," said Brian Courtney of Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, which has supported commuter rail. "The train is important for Nashville to attract business and workers to the area. There are detractors, but a lot of people want it to be successful."
If passengers turn out in the hoped-for numbers, public officials in surrounding areas could be spurred into forking out the millions needed to recreate rail services.
If the new line struggles, rail development could be set back.
The line offers a largely peak-hours service.
Trains leave Lebanon, Martha, Mt. Juliet, Hermitage and Donelson between 06.00 and 07.50 and leave the Nashville station between 16.20 and 17.45. There are just a few off-peak and contra-peak trains.
One commentator said: "I was very excited by the mass transit push in Nashville. But I am disappointed with the attitude of officials saying the future of the mass transit programme lies heavily in the success of the Lebanon leg.
"This leg was the cheapest to build as far as infrastructure goes initially, but I don't believe ridership will be as great as it would be in other areas of town.
"Also, the lack of options in train schedules is very hindering to the programme. I understand that the tracks are rented from CSX for a per use fee.
"Other than government employees, how many people have predictable schedules and get off work at 4.30 to have enough time to make it to the station before it leaves at 5.25?
"This programme is going to burn itself in the ground if leaders don't step up and see the big picture. What is going to happen 10, 20, 50 years down the road? Mass transit is very, very important to our city's future in growth and prosperity. I hope everyone takes it seriously and pushes their leaders to promote smart growth."
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