New Mexico Rail Runner Express Marks 20 Years of Service

New Mexico’s first commuter rail service is celebrating two decades of connecting communities. Rail Runner Express serves 15 central New Mexico stations along a 96.5-mile corridor that runs from Santa Fe to Downtown Albuquerque and destinations further south using a push-pull configuration.

Service officially launched on July 14, 2006, between downtown Albuquerque and Bernalillo. Over the next two years, the system expanded south to Belen and north to Santa Fe, creating the nearly 100-mile rail corridor that serves riders today. Since its launch, Rail Runner has carried passengers to work, school, medical appointments, concerts, sporting events, family gatherings, and other destinations, becoming a recognizable part of daily travel across central New Mexico.

Rio Metro Regional Transit District, which manages the rail service, reports that riders have helped remove an estimated 17.1 million vehicle miles from New Mexico roads during peak commuting hours and saved approximately 175,000 gallons of gasoline. A commuter traveling between downtown Albuquerque and downtown Santa Fe could save approximately $1,456 per month by taking Rail Runner instead of driving alone.

“Looking back on the last two decades, we can proudly say that the partnership between Rio Metro Regional Transit District, as operator, and New Mexico DOT, as owner of the railroad, has fundamentally transformed how New Mexicans live and work,” said David Harris, NMDOT executive director of modal programs.

In celebration of the anniversary, Rio Metro is highlighting staff and crew members who have been part of the Rail Runner story. Rio Metro Director Robert Gonzales said, “I am thankful for having spent the past 20 years working side-by-side with some of the most dedicated transportation staff members I could ask for. Together, we have not simply built a railroad. We’ve assembled a complete transportation system for the people of central New Mexico to use—one that we should all be proud of.”

Longtime employees describe the agency as a close-knit team built around service to passengers. Guadalupe Maltos, transit administrative assistant, said that after 20 years, the people keep her coming back: “Our organization is like a family—we truly care about one another.”

Reflecting on the past and looking toward the future, Tony Sylvester, planning manager and board liaison, said, “When we first started, it was just really creating a vision of what could be. How to create it, and how to put it all together and make this vision work. Twenty years later we have a successful rail system. And now we have the infrastructure, the staff, and the community support to bring this all to a new level.”