LYNX Has Foggy First Weekday Ride

Fog greeted LYNX riders on the Blue Line's first weekday of service in Charlotte. CATS began charging riders on Monday and people used cash because debit cards did not work.

The first LYNX train at the Tyvola station in South Charlotte came around 5:30 a.m. Monday. Several dozen people boarded the train and went to work in Uptown.

With the Carolina Panthers in town on Sunday, Panther fans took advantage of the free rides on the new LYNX Blue Line Light rail, and used it to get to the game. On Sunday, all 15 stops had a crowd for the Panthers game.

Around noon on Sunday, trains were already standing room only as Panther fans made their way to the stadium.

But one thing that will be free all year round is the parking at the light rail stations. LYNX passenger Connie Liles told Eyewitness News that she was concerned there wouldn't be enough parking at the stations, but now she has noticed there's plenty of parking space and will be using the light rail service again.

CATS officials estimate 60,250 riders experienced the LYNX from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. An official number for Sunday's attendence is still being calculated.

The large crowds caused delays along the LYNX line on Saturday. Thousands of riders were left waiting at the South Boulevard and I-485 Station in Pineville for an estimated one to two hours before a northbound train was available to take them home.

CATS spokesperson Olaf Kinard said, "it's not an indication of the true commute."

CATS officials tried to lessen the wait time by bringing in CATS buses to transport riders back to their starting points.

The cost for each way on the light rail $1.30. A ticket for unlimited use for the week is $13. A ticket for unlimited rides for a day is $4. Riders who don't pay for a ticket will be asked to leave the train and could be fined $50.