New Mexicans anxious to return to the rails

A visitor looks over part of downtown Albuquerque from the Rio Metro depot

Beginning in 2003 the State of New Mexico bought the track bed that Amtrak's Southwest Chief uses from just north of Lamy to Behlen south of Albuquerque from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway when the Rail Runner was being built. BNSF owns virtually all the rail rights of way in New Mexico.

After being shut down for nearly a year, the New Mexico Rail Runner is releasing a new advertisement, with the hopes of attracting more passengers. The train runs along a 100-mile corridor, with 15 stations from Santa Fe to Belen. In April 2020, the Rail Runner took a big hit due to the pandemic as the train system suspended service for nearly a year. The train started running again in March, and after eight months of service, officials say ridership is at about 50% of what it was pre-pandemic. [New ad campaign hopes to attract more Rail Runner passengers]

In 2020 Game of Thrones author George RR Martin and two other New Mexico celebrities purchased the Santa Fe Southern Railroad and the depot in Lamy. SFSR was featured in the Breaking Bad episode, Dead Freight.

Sky Railway will offer a number of themed adventures along its 18 miles of track between Santa Fe and Lamy to the south where the holiday season experience kicks off with a trip through Santa’s wonderland at the Lamy station. Heading the creative team, is Santa Fe arts enthusiast and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. The train cars’ elaborate exteriors showcase six months of work from local muralist Joerael Numina. Sky Railway launches its first adventure rides on December 3. [Santa Fe Southern Railroad turned holiday experience]

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Rio Metro Transportation District, which operates the New Mexico Rail Runner, are laying new ties along a 31-mile stretch of track south of Raton Pass, replacing some 12 miles of bolted rail with welded rail between Lamy and Los Cerrillos and completing installation of a Positive Train Control system.

Business owners feel the city isn’t putting its best foot forward to welcome thousands of people into downtown and they want to change that. For decades, Albuquerque has been a stop for train passengers along the southwest. Albuquerque is now a service stop for Amtrak with passengers having layovers in the city for nearly an hour, according to Amtrak. “The downtown Amtrak train and Greyhound bus station are both leased to these companies by the City of Albuquerque. The city has met with local businesses downtown regarding a kiosk at this location and will look at ways to support them as they work with the tenants,” said Johnny Chandler, a spokesperson with Albuquerque’s Planning Department. [Downtown business owners see missed tourism opportunity at Amtrak station]

ip photo: the Rio Metro depot in downtown Albuquerque