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==Rolling stock==
==Rolling stock==
The Rail Runner power includes nine Motive Power [[MPI MP36PH-3C]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s that operate on [[biodiesel]] fuel.<ref>[http://www.nmrailrunner.com/equipment.asp Train Equipment page on Rail Runner website]</ref> Passenger cars include nine [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es and thirteen Bombardier BiLevel [[Control car (rail)|Cab cars]]. Each car has a seating capacity of 140 passengers, with standing room for an additional 60. Rail Runner trains operate in a [[Push-pull train|push-pull]] configuration, with the locomotive always facing south. When not in use, the vehicles are stored in a railyard in Downtown Albuquerque, located across the main rail line from the Amtrak/Greyhound Depot.
The Rail Runner power includes nine Motive Power [[MPI MP36PH-3C]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s that operate on diesel fuel. The use of [[biodiesel]] fuel is under investigation<ref>[http://www.nmrailrunner.com/equipment.asp Train Equipment page on Rail Runner website]</ref>. Passenger cars include nine [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es and thirteen Bombardier BiLevel [[Control car (rail)|Cab cars]]. Each car has a seating capacity of 140 passengers, with standing room for an additional 60. Rail Runner trains operate in a [[Push-pull train|push-pull]] configuration, with the locomotive always facing south. When not in use, the vehicles are stored in a railyard in Downtown Albuquerque, located across the main rail line from the Amtrak/Greyhound Depot.


The [[Federal Railroad Administration|FRA]] [[reporting mark]] for the Rail Runner Express is NMRX. Locomotives have three-digit road numbers beginning with the numeral 1 (e.g., 101). Coaches have four-digit road numbers beginning with the numeral 1 (e.g., 1001). Cab cars have four-digit road numbers beginning with 11 (e.g., 1101). Restrooms and water fountains are available in the cab cars. Bicycle and wheelchair locks are on the first level of all coaches.
The [[Federal Railroad Administration|FRA]] [[reporting mark]] for the Rail Runner Express is NMRX. Locomotives have three-digit road numbers beginning with the numeral 1 (e.g., 101). Coaches have four-digit road numbers beginning with the numeral 1 (e.g., 1001). Cab cars have four-digit road numbers beginning with 11 (e.g., 1101). Restrooms and water fountains are available in the cab cars. Bicycle and wheelchair locks are on the first level of all coaches.

Revision as of 15:01, 5 June 2009

New Mexico Rail Runner Express
File:Railrunner logo.PNG
Rail Runner logo
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNMDOT and MRCOG
LocaleAlbuquerque, New Mexico metropolitan area
Termini
Stations10 open (13 planned)
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s)Herzog
History
OpenedJuly 14, 2006
Technical
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Operating speed79 miles per hour (127 km/h)[1]
Route map

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is a commuter rail system serving the metropolitan areas of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is administered by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and the Mid Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), a regional government planning association. Phase I of the system, operating on an existing BNSF Railway right of way from Belen to Bernalillo, opened in July 2006. Phase II, the extension of the line to Santa Fe, opened in December 2008.

History

In 2003, the concept of passenger rail serving the Central New Mexico corridor had been discussed for decades, but it wasn’t until August of that year, when New Mexico governor Bill Richardson announced that his administration was going to pursue the implementation of commuter rail service, that a serious effort got under way. Later that same year, grants were given to NMDOT and MRCOG to begin the effort, and the New Mexico State Legislature passed Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership (GRIP), a transportation improvement package with the Rail Runner included as one of the bill's projects.

Over the next few years, NMDOT and MRCOG developed a strategy for implementing rail service. In 2005, a name and a branding scheme was chosen. The name “Rail Runner” is a play on the name of New Mexico’s state bird the roadrunner. The cars and locomotives were received throughout the year of 2005 and groundbreaking for the first Rail Runner station took place on October 31, 2005. During this time the state also made negotiations with BNSF for usage of the railroad track. After assessing the needs of the track, the State of New Mexico purchased the railroad corridor from Belen to the New Mexico-Colorado border from BNSF, to ensure that commuter trains would always get the right-of-way and have priority over freight trains in the corridor. While the engines are capable of 110 miles per hour (180 km/h), the track limits the maximum speed to 79 miles per hour (127 km/h)[1].

The Rail Runner officially went into service on July 14, 2006, serving the Downtown Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, and Sandoval County stations. On December 11, 2006, the Los Lunas station opened, and on February 2, 2007, the Belen station opened, extending the line to its southern end. In April 2007, two more stations opened: Bernalillo County/International Sunport and Downtown Bernalillo. On December 17, 2008, the Isleta Pueblo station opened.[2]

Phase II, the extension of the line to Santa Fe, opened for service on December 17, 2008. Using the existing Santa Fe Southern Railway track from Lamy to Santa Fe, which is filled with sharp curves, would have required the train to slow to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) in some places, so new tracks were laid to produce travel times comparable to the automobile. The route uses previously existing track from Bernalillo to the base of La Bajada, a hill south of Santa Fe. It then runs on newly built track on new right-of-way from CP Madrid, for five miles and then in the I-25 median into Santa Fe, at CP Hondo, where it uses an improved Santa Fe Southern Railway track from I-25 to the terminal at the Santa Fe Railyard.[3] Two of the planned stations for the Phase II extension opened on December 17: the South Capitol and the Santa Fe Depot stations.

Justification

The central New Mexico corridor, which is home to half the state’s population, contains Santa Fe, the state capital, and Albuquerque, the largest city and economic hub of New Mexico. The two cities are connected by I-25, an increasingly congested four-lane rural freeway that roughly parallels the route of the Rail Runner. Alternate routes are longer or otherwise constraining. Within Albuquerque's metropolitan area the heavily urbanized parts of Valencia county are separated from Albuquerque by Isleta Pueblo. Another four Native American pueblos are traversed by the Interstate Highway to Santa Fe, making the addition of new roadways or the expansion of current capacity financially and politically challenging.[4]

The high real-estate prices in Santa Fe mean that many of the people who work there commute from the Albuquerque metro area. Furthermore, the capital is home to many of the state’s cultural institutions and tourist attractions, and most out-of-state visitors are forced to make the 60-mile journey from the Albuquerque International Sunport by car. As the population of the region grows, commute times are expected to increase 80% on some routes by 2025, making the introduction of additional forms of transportation a priority to local governments.[5]

Criticism

The cost of the Rail Runner system, at $135 million for the first phase and around $250 million for the second phase,[6] has attracted many criticisms. Some critics of the rail system believe that the funds would be better spent widening Interstate 25 between Santa Fe and Tramway Road in Albuquerque and also widening I-25 south of the Albuquerque International Sunport to Belen. However, the possibility of doing so is limited as the Pueblos I-25 passes through have refused permission for road widening.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the service will operate at a deficit, requiring up to $10 million in government subsidies annually.[7] Supporters of the Rail Runner argue that roads require high construction costs and expensive maintenance as well, and that subsidies for roads in the corridor would likely be similar if not more.

In late 2007, the Rail Runner was the subject of more criticism as a transportation funding shortfall left many state road projects stalled. State officials said the rising cost of construction materials and less federal support were the cause, but some lawmakers cited the cost of the Rail Runner as a major factor of the shortfall.[8]

Funding

The capital costs of the Rail Runner project were covered by state and local funds. Phase I of the project was set to cost $135 million while Phase II was set to cost $250 million.[9]

Funding for operations of the system in its first few years was covered largely by federal Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, along with ticket revenues and some state and local funds. Operational costs were expected to rise from $10 million for the first phase to $20 million after completion of the second phase.[10]

Federal funding for the Rail Runner is expected to stop in 2009, and without sufficient funds from other sources would leave funding for the operational and maintenance costs for the system up in the air. To prevent a funding shortfall, local and state governments began looking into possible taxes in the counties the Rail Runner serves. Two separate gross receipts taxes for regional transit were approved by voters in central and north-central New Mexico in November 2008 and will cover a large portion of the operational funds of the Rail Runner. Additional funds will also come from bond revenue and money appropriated by the New Mexico State Legislature.[11]

Ridership

For the first few months of service between Albuquerque and Bernalillo the fares were free, to attract riders to the service. On the first day of service the Rail Runner carried 4,122 passengers, and ridership climbed through the first few weeks of operation, averaging at around 4,000 to 4,500 riders a day and once peaking at over 6,000 riders a day.[12] On August 14, 2006, barely a month after the start of service, the Rail Runner received its 100,000th passenger. As many of the riders in the early weeks of service were not commuters, but people “trying out” the train because it was new, ridership gradually declined after the initial weeks of service.[13] August ridership dropped to around 2,500 to 3,000 riders a day, and then down to 2,100 to 2,500 riders a day in September. Despite the drop, the Rail Runner received its 200,000th passenger on October 13, 2006.

In November, the free service ended on the Sandoval section of the line and ridership dropped to around 1,000 passengers a day. But when the Los Lunas and Belen stations opened ridership nearly doubled, bringing it up to around 1,800 passengers a day. The Rail Runner received its 300,000th passenger on February 22, 2007. Free service on the Belen section of the line ended April 1, 2007, and a new zone fare structure went into effect. During the summer of 2007, ridership was steady at around 2,500 passengers per day. The Rail Runner got its 400,000th passenger on May 10 and its 500,000th passenger on July 5, 2007. By April 2008, weekly ridership was 9,600.[14] On June 26, 2008, the Rail Runner passed 1,000,000 passengers.[15]

On December 17, 2008, service to Santa Fe started with a three-month period of free service for Santa Fe County residents and three weekends of free service for everyone to attract new riders. During the first full week of train service between the two cities, more than 33,000 passengers climbed aboard. On the second Saturday of service to Santa Fe, nearly 12,000 people boarded trains between Belen and Santa Fe, which officials say marked the commuter train's biggest ridership day.[16] Weekend service, which was to be discontinued after the first three weekends of service to Santa Fe, remained so popular that permanent Saturday service was established.[17] Ridership for the first few weeks of Santa Fe service averaged about 5,000 riders a day, then dropped to an average of around 4,000 riders a day for the month of January 2009.[18] In early, June 2009, ridership surpassed 2 million passengers.[19]

The original 2005 projected daily ridership for a slightly different (but similar speed) Phase II route to Santa Fe was 2954.[20]

Service

Currently, the Rail Runner operates on weekdays with eight Albuquerque—Santa Fe roundtrips and five Belen-Albuquerque roundtrips, and on Saturdays with six Belen-Santa Fe roundtrips. On weekdays, most trains run during the peak commuting periods, with extra trains running mid-day and in the evening. There is also some additional weekend service for special events. (Balloon Fiesta, holiday season, etc).[21]

Ticketing

The cost of Rail Runner tickets is based upon the number of zones traveled. Tickets are purchased from yellow-vested attendants with hand-held devices either at the station platform before boarding or on the train.[22] Day, monthly, and annual passes are available. Children under the age of 10 ride for free. Starting December 2007, regular one-way fares are as follows[23]:

  • Within one zone: $1.00
  • Within two zones: $2.00
  • Within three zones: $3.00
  • Within four zones: $5.00
  • Within five zones: $6.00
  • Within six zones: $7.00

Reduced fares for seniors, students, and the disabled are as follows:

  • Within one zone: $1.00
  • Within two zones: $1.00
  • Within three zones: $2.00
  • Within four zones: $3.00
  • Within five zones: $4.00
  • Within six zones: $5.00

A round-trip day-pass between Santa Fe and Albuquerque costs $8.00. As of June 25, 2007, the Rail Runner now offers printable tickets on their website. The tickets will be scanned by the attendants when boarding the train. The fare for each ride remains the same.

Rolling stock

The Rail Runner power includes nine Motive Power MPI MP36PH-3C diesel-electric locomotives that operate on diesel fuel. The use of biodiesel fuel is under investigation[24]. Passenger cars include nine Bombardier BiLevel Coaches and thirteen Bombardier BiLevel Cab cars. Each car has a seating capacity of 140 passengers, with standing room for an additional 60. Rail Runner trains operate in a push-pull configuration, with the locomotive always facing south. When not in use, the vehicles are stored in a railyard in Downtown Albuquerque, located across the main rail line from the Amtrak/Greyhound Depot.

The FRA reporting mark for the Rail Runner Express is NMRX. Locomotives have three-digit road numbers beginning with the numeral 1 (e.g., 101). Coaches have four-digit road numbers beginning with the numeral 1 (e.g., 1001). Cab cars have four-digit road numbers beginning with 11 (e.g., 1101). Restrooms and water fountains are available in the cab cars. Bicycle and wheelchair locks are on the first level of all coaches.

The livery of the New Mexico Rail Runner depicts a stylistic roadrunner on the locomotive and trailing tailfeathers on the coaches. The door closing tones resemble the signature “Beep-Beep” of the Warner Bros. Road Runner cartoon character.

Manufacturer Model Numbers
Motive Power MPI MP36PH-3C diesel-electric locomotive 9
Bombardier Transportation Bombardier BiLevel Coach 9
Bombardier Transportation Bombardier BiLevel Cab cars 13

Connections

The Rail Runner connects with Amtrak and Greyhound Lines at Downtown Albuquerque. New Mexico Park and Ride shuttles connect the Downtown Albuquerque station to Moriarty, the Sandoval County/US 550 station to nearby communities, and the South Capitol station in Santa Fe to the communities of Los Alamos, Espanola, and Las Vegas.[25] Park & Ride passengers with a monthly pass get to ride the Rail Runner for free.

There are connections to numerous ABQRide routes (including Rapid Ride) in Downtown Albuquerque as well as ABQRide routes at the Los Ranchos/Journal Center and Bernalillo County/International Sunport stations. ABQRide offers free service to anyone who shows their Rail Runner ticket. In Santa Fe, Santa Fe Trails' bus routes, a city government shuttle, and a Department of Transportation shuttle provide connections at the South Capitol and Santa Fe Depot stations on which Rail Runner passengers also receive free transfers.[26]

There are also a number of smaller shuttle services serving the Rail Runner: a shuttle to Socorro and through Belen serves the Belen station, Los Lunas Public Transportation serves the Los Lunas station, the Sandoval Easy Express serves the two stations in Bernalillo, the University of New Mexico has a dedicated shuttle connecting its main campus to the Downtown Albuquerque station, and Santa Ana Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo, and Pojoaque Pueblo operate shuttles connecting their casinos to the Rail Runner stations.

Future plans

Template:Future public transportation

Remaining planned stations

Of the original nine stations planned for Phase I, one has yet to open: the Sandia Pueblo station. The opening date has yet to be determined.

Of the four planned stations for Phase II, two have yet to open: the Santa Fe County/NM 599, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2009,[27] and the Zia Road station, for which the opening date has yet to be determined.[28]

Possible future stations

Other stations may be added in the future.[29] Stations have been proposed by tribal leaders and state government in two pueblos located along the train’s route, Santo Domingo and San Felipe.[30] The Environmental Assessment considered placement of a station between Cerrillos Road and Richards Avenue in the I-25 Median; it concluded that there was not yet enough demand, but recommended that it be considered for the future.

MRCOG is looking into building a new station in Albuquerque on Montaño Road, which lies between the current Downtown Albuquerque and the Los Ranchos/Journal Center stations.[31] The proposed station is included on MRCOG's 2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan.[32] A possible extension northward to Taos has also been discussed, however the Taos area now has a shuttle service from Taos to the Santa Fe Rail Runner Stations.

Incidents

  • On April 5, 2007, a northbound train ran through a wildfire on the Isleta Pueblo reservation. No one was hurt and no equipment was damaged, but officials soon tried to find out why no one received notification of the blaze until the incident actually occurred.[33]
  • On the evening of August 24, 2007, a southbound train hit a vehicle at a private grade crossing south of Los Lunas. Two people in the vehicle were killed. No one aboard the train was injured. It appears that the Rail Runner personnel followed procedure.[34]
  • On the evening of September 19, 2007, a southbound train hit a vehicle at a private grade crossing between Belen and Los Lunas. One person in the vehicle was killed.[35]
  • During the early evening of May 14, 2008 in an apparent suicide, a man was killed after being struck by the Rail Runner as he was sitting on the tracks.[36]
  • On the morning of March 10, 2009, a southbound Rail Runner train struck an abandoned car in the South Valley.[38]
  • Rail Runner train in Albuquerque
    Rail Runner train in Albuquerque
  • Rail Runner visiting Las Cruces
    Rail Runner visiting Las Cruces
  • The Sandoval County/US 550 Station
    The Sandoval County/US 550 Station
  • The interior of the coaches
    The interior of the coaches
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rail Runner Express.

References

  1. ^ a b "Rail Runner Express Gets Rollin' for the First Time on Trial Trip". The Albuquerque Journal. 2006-04-19. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  2. ^ Commuter Rail Status Report: "Belen to Santa Fe Commuter Rail Overview"
  3. ^ "Rail Runner Route to Santa Fe" page on Rail Runner website
  4. ^ Commuter Rail Status Report: "Transportation Issues in the Albuquerque to Santa Fe Corridor"
  5. ^ Commuter Rail Status Report: "Regional Context" and "Transportation Issues in the Middle Rio Grande Valley"
  6. ^ Funding page on Rail Runner website
  7. ^ "Train Debate Ignores I-25 Funding Needs". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  8. ^ "Lack of funds has N.M. road projects on hold". Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  9. ^ Funding page on Rail Runner website
  10. ^ "A referendum on the Rail Runner". New Mexico Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  11. ^ "Transit tax passes in 7 New Mexico counties". MSN Money. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  12. ^ "Story: Stats don't faze train managers". Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  13. ^ "Fewer people are riding the Rail Runner for fun". Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  14. ^ "Gas Prices Increase Rail Runner Ridership". KKOB News Radio. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  15. ^ "Rail Runner celebrates 1 million riders". KOB-TV. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  16. ^ http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Rail-Runner-Express-Planners-mull-parking-expansion
  17. ^ http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/The-Saturday-connection
  18. ^ "Rail Runner Ridership Down". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  19. ^ "Rail Runner to reach 2 million rider mark". KKOB TV. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  20. ^ http://www.nmrailrunner.com/PDF/Alternatives%20Analysis%20Executive%20Summary.pdf "(2005) Alternatives Analysis Executive Summary"
  21. ^ Train Schedule on Rail Runner website
  22. ^ Tickets page on Rail Runner website
  23. ^ Rail Runner Fares December 2008
  24. ^ Train Equipment page on Rail Runner website
  25. ^ Draft Park & Ride schedules on New Mexico DOT website
  26. ^ Park/Connect page on Rail Runner website
  27. ^ "NM-599 Station" page on Rail Runner website
  28. ^ "Zia Road Station" page on Rail Runner website
  29. ^ "Santa Fe Station Locations" page on Rail Runner website
  30. ^ https://santafe.com/Pages/5000
  31. ^ "Rail Runner Express averages 2,000 riders per day". Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  32. ^ 2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan: Public Transportation (page 11)
  33. ^ "Railroad fire plan not followed". KRQE News 13. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  34. ^ "Siblings die in Rail Runner collision". KRQE News 13. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  35. ^ "Senior Citizen dies in Rail Runner collision". KRQE News 13. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  36. ^ "Suicide suspected in Rail Runner fatality". KOB TV 4. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  37. ^ "Delays, struck cow mark Rail Runner's first day, but riders optimistic". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  38. ^ "Train collides with abandoned car". KOB-TV. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
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