By Chris Barrett
PBN Staff Writer

About 15 passengers had their pick of seats as they entered the Mass. Bay Transportation Authority’s 7:15 a.m. train, departing the new InterLink facility at Warwick’s T.F. Green Airport for Boston on Jan 10.

The crowd is thin most days, says Bill Powers, a parking administrator who greets commuters at the platform each weekday. Powers, who works for parking-garage contractor Standard Parking, has a front-row view of the action at Rhode Island’s newest commuter rail station.

Imbedded in a $267 million facility that also includes a commuter parking garage and space for rental-car companies, state officials herald the MBTA station as a potential catalyst for economic development.

Trains started rolling on Dec. 6 with three trains departing each weekday morning and three arriving in the evening. The MBTA also operates two trains in the morning from Providence to Warwick and three trains in the evening on the reverse route.

How many people board the trains is unclear. The MBTA was able to provide ridership figures only for some trips. According to the limited data available, ridership has varied between one and 56 for the trains to and from Boston. The trains moving between Warwick and Providence typically have just a handful of passengers, if any.

But Powers said interest is growing.

“Every day I see three, four or five new customers,” he said.

Powers said he typically watches about 20 passengers board the earliest train to Boston – departing at 6:13 a.m. About 40 people board the next train – at 6:52 a.m. – and another 15 or so the last train at 7:15 a.m. Those numbers closely match official figures the MBTA provided for a smattering of trains.

The passengers, Powers said, tell him they come from as far south as South Kingstown to as close as 10 minutes away. Most are headed to jobs in Boston, taking the train in lieu of a car or as an alternative to hoping on at Providence or South Attleboro.

Commuters pull into the 640-space, commuter-parking garage – largely empty on a recent morning visit – or are dropped off at a driveway a few feet from the platform. Some scurry to machines to pay for parking while others hustle onboard or stop to chat with Powers.