Commuters hoping to ride Capital Metro's new rail service may have to wait until early next year. The line between Leander and downtown Austin was supposed to open this fall, but two train stations may not be ready in time.

The 32-mile rail line stretches from the Austin Convention Center in downtown up through Leander. There will be nine stops along the way.

Some locations are ready to open, but the Howard Lane and Kramer Lane stations were delayed when the agency had to find new locations for both.

Adam Shaivitz, spokesperson for Capital Metro, said the agency was never able to finalize a deal on the first site.

"What we decided for Howard Lane was a location on land owned by TxDOT right off MoPac and Howard Lane, and that's where construction has gotten underway, and that's where we'll be locating that station," he said.

As for Kramer Lane, the site was moved south in order to be part of a planned development project. Construction should begin in couple of weeks. The plan is to build two station platforms -- one will be done by the end of the year, the other early next year.

Capital Metro officials have long said the commuter rail would open by the end of the year. But now with two stations delayed, it might be next year before riders hit the rails. And that has some disappointed.

"You're talking about underserved community an underserved population that have one, two, three jobs sometimes and transportation is a necessity not a luxury," said Cathy Vasquez, who plans to ride.

"I feel that if there is an opportunity to start the rail without those other stops I think I would support that," said Johnny Limon. "I'm excited that commuter rail is fixing to start. It's going to help us out with some of the traffic problems."

Capital Metro will decide what to do at a meeting next month.