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Monday, December 22, 2008

Delays force agency to add train for Sunday service to Santa Fe

By Sean Olson
Journal Staff Writer
          It was standing room only on the Rail Runner to Santa Fe on Sunday — and that was for those lucky enough to get on the train.
        Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments Executive Director Lawrence Rael said a crowd of "well over" 5,000 people riding the new train service caused delays of 30-45 minutes. Some people had to wait for later trains as the Rail Runner filled up before all the waiting passengers could board at some stations, he said.
        "It's a good problem to have, to have so many people riding the train," Rael said. But "we're concerned about giving people a bad experience."
        It wasn't just a holdup in the train stations. The Albuquerque Sunport experienced delays on about 15 percent of its flights throughout Sunday, Sunport spokesman Daniel Jiron said. He said there are usually about 110 flights on a given Sunday.
        Bad weather on the East Coast and in the Midwest caused the delays, which were felt across the country, Jiron said.
        "It was just kind of a domino effect from what was happening in the rest of the city," he said.
        Rael said another train — each is made of four cars and carries just under 1,000 people — was added to the Rail Runner schedule Sunday about noon, but delays persisted.
        He said the free rides offered this weekend, people visiting for the holidays and the novelty of the new train to Santa Fe boosted ridership.
        "Free rides do tend to bring people out," Rael said.
        Rael said an extra two trains — making a total of five — will be added to the schedule next weekend to accommodate the traffic. He said the trains' heavy ridership should calm down in about a month.
        The commuter trains operate weekdays and Saturdays. From Downtown Albuquerque, the earliest weekday northbound train departs at 4:23 a.m. From the Santa Fe Depot at the Railyard north of Paseo de Peralta, the last weekday train leaves at 9:30 p.m.
        The trains run Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday season through Sunday, Jan. 4. The service is free during this period. They don't normally run Sundays.
        Monthly and annual passes are available. Reduced fares are available for seniors, students with an ID or proof of enrollment, and people with disabilities. Children under 10 ride free. A round-trip fare from Downtown Albuquerque to downtown Santa Fe will cost $8. Tickets can be purchased online at www.nmrailrunner.com or on the train platforms.