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New Mexico Rail Runner Express
Monday kicks off “Rail Runner Week” - prizes, a free ride, and a birthday dedication! (Albuquerque, 7-12-07) On July 17th the New Mexico Rail Runner Express will celebrate one year in service. In honor of this momentous event, all next week has been officially dedicated “Rail Runner Week”. "It should not come as a surprise to anyone that the Rail Runner has been a huge success in its first year of operation,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “With rising gasoline prices and traffic gridlocks, more and more commuters are embracing the Rail Runner service. I promised to implement an efficient and affordable commuter train system that provides a safe transportation alternative to our residents, while boosting our economic growth. We have accomplished that goal, but we have more work to do as we prepare to bring the service to Santa Fe by the end of next year.” “This is a very exciting occasion for us”, says Rhonda Faught, Secretary of the NM Department of Transportation. “This project represents the Department of Transportation’s move into being a truly multimodal agency – providing our citizens with a clean, cost-effective transportation alternative.” Starting Monday, commuters will be treated to daily giveaways and drawings, as well as a special birthday dedication at the Downtown Albuquerque Rail Runner Station on Tuesday, July 17th. “We want commuters to know that this is their train”, says Lawrence Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “Throughout the past year, it’s been very encouraging to watch the region “get connected” each time we added new Rail Runner stations from Bernalillo to Belen. Now we have the whole 50-mile corridor opened and the next goal is Santa Fe in 2008!” On Tuesday, the public is invited to a special one-year dedication at the Downtown Albuquerque Rail Runner Station. Dignitaries will be on hand to help commemorate the day, and there will be refreshments and entertainment to celebrate the one year anniversary. Special One-Year Rail Runner Dedication The Rail Runner, which has become the fastest start-up of a
commuter rail train in the country in the past 20 years,
currently carries an average 2,500 commuters a day along a
50-mile corridor between the City of Belen and the Town of
Bernalillo. Work has already begun on extending the Rail Runner
route north to Santa Fe by the end of 2008.
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