Northstar commuter trains won't start running for a few months, but riders on the new line between Big Lake and Minneapolis can start planning with details about fares from Metro Transit.

One-ways fares will be as follows between downtown Minneapolis and these stations: Big Lake, $7; Elk River, $5.50; Anoka, $4; Coon Rapids, $4; Fridley, $3.25. For riders not going downtown, the fare between stations will be $3.25.

The line will offer five morning trips to Minneapolis and five afternoon trips to Big Lake on weekdays, with one reverse-commute trip each morning and afternoon. Northstar will also provide three round trips on Saturdays and Sundays, and some holiday service.

Trains will be scheduled to meet the needs of commuters who start work in downtown Minneapolis at 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:45 in the morning, and end at 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5 and 5:30 in the afternoon.

Tickets will cost less on weekends and holidays.

For more information about fares and schedules, go to www.metrotransit.org/Northstar.

Officials also held a groundbreaking ceremony this week for a park-and-ride lot in St. Cloud that commuters will be able to use to get to the Northstar line's Big Lake station.

The lot, at Hwy. 10 and Lincoln Avenue, will have 146 spaces and a drive-through lane for buses when it's done. Buses should start running when the rail line opens late this year.

The proposed fare to catch a bus to the Big Lake station is $3, with discounts for passes.