Service is off to a smooth start on Minnesota’s new Northstar commuter rail service linking Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis. After a weekend of grand-opening fanfare, the 40-mile line opened Monday. Metro Transit staffers say an estimated 115 people rode the first inbound train to downtown Minneapolis. An unofficial count had 44 people on the outbound train headed toward Big Lake, and 241 people were on the second inbound train of the morning headed to downtown Minneapolis. The number of customers who boarded the NorthStar Rail trains this morning reached over 1,200. Assuming riders return home the same way, the first day totals make up 70 percent of average weekday ridership expected for the first year.