[13] In 1998 UTA tested a commuter train set borrowed from the Altamont Corridor Express along Union Pacific track which runs alongside what would eventually be the FrontRunner route.

[14] In the same year, UTA began negotiations with Union Pacific to purchase the former Salt Lake Shops.

At the time, the service only ran from Ogden to Salt Lake Central with stops in Roy, Clearfield, Layton, Farmington, and Woods Cross.

The station in Pleasant View, which is north of Ogden, was anticipated to open along with the rest of the line in April 2008, but it was plagued by a variety of service problems stemming from the last 6 miles (9.7 km) of track being shared with Union Pacific Railroad freight service.

[18][19] Another issue was that the shared track was still dispatched by Union Pacific, who did not want FrontRunner service to interfere with their busy freight corridor in Ogden.

[22] In February 2018, UTA announced they would be indefinitely suspending trains between Ogden and Pleasant View starting on August 12, 2018, both due to new federal safety guidelines and low ridership to that station.

[26] The Utah Transit Authority began work on the line after a ground breaking ceremony on August 12, 2008, and seven new stations were built in Murray, South Jordan, Draper, Lehi, American Fork, Orem, and Provo.

However, UTA also indicated that it was not entirely unexpected as there is usually a high number of riders when a line opens before a longer term pattern of regular ridership is established.

[35] Future extensions are envisioned that would eventually encompass over 110 miles (180 km) along the Wasatch Front, providing service as far north as Brigham City and as far south as Payson.

[37] Phase 1 is known as FrontRunner 2X; which consists of double tracking at strategic locations to increase maximum frequency from thirty minutes to fifteen.

[10][40] The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has their own plans to add an infill station at The Point just south of Draper around this construction period.

[37] UTA previously purchased the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Tintic Branch tracks that run between Provo and Payson to serve as their right-of-way.

UTA has made a deal with Union Pacific where FrontRunner would run down tracks on the west side of the Provo Yard, then construct a flyover north of Springville station to allow for a connection with the Tintic Branch.

[Note 1] The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has announced that accommodations for a FrontRunner station just west of I-15 are included in the overall plans for a new interchange at Spanish Fork Center Street.

The location of the station in Payson was originally anticipated to be just west of I-15 at about 800 South,[44] has since been moved north to closer to the area of a planned interchange for Nebo Beltway Drive.

UTA also has plans to build a light maintenance facility to store FrontRunner's in Utah County to allow for close access.

[37] The location of the station in Brigham City will likely be on newly built right-of-way near the western end of 200 South, where the Utah Transit Authority already owns a Park and Ride lot, only used for vanpool services to Thiokol, with an additional station in Willard just east of I-15 at about 750 North.

Phase 5 includes infill stations, 62 miles (100 km) of 110+ mph track, and full grade separation.

The entire length of FrontRunner corridor (including the southern extension) was approved as a "quiet zone" by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Normally, federal regulations require that train operators sound their horns for fifteen to twenty seconds as they approach any road crossing.

Riders can, however, purchase Frontrunner fare at TRAX stations or online, and then use that to cover both portions of an intermodal trip.

After this station, FrontRunner continues north, leaving Murray and entering the city of South Salt Lake.

(Salt Lake Central is the northern terminus for the TRAX Blue line, which runs south to Draper.)

There is also a promotional Group Pass which allows up to four riders of any age to ride together on FrontRunner, TRAX and local buses for $15.

[75] FrontRunner uses 18 MPXpress (MP36PH-3C)[76] locomotives from Motive Power International of Boise, Idaho, bi-level Bombardier cars, and had repainted 25 refurbished ex-New Jersey Transit Comet Is[77] which entered service on September 17, 2008.

[94][95] The Service Center facility, which was purchased from Union Pacific in 2003, was originally built in 1955 at the location of the former Salt Lake City roadhouse.

[97] On January 24, 2017, a FrontRunner train impacted the front trailer of a FedEx double semi-trailer truck at a North Salt Lake crossing.

UTA investigated the incident and fired an employee after determining he had improperly raised the gates without following procedures that would have made the crossing safe.

[100] On October 16, 2019, a FrontRunner train impacted an idle car on the tracks and threw it 30 ft (9.1 m) after its driver experienced a medical incident and fell unconscious.

Both the driver and the State Trooper's lives being saved was attributed to the FrontRunner being five minutes behind schedule and the operator's quick reaction.