New Mexico Rail Runner

The New MexicoRail Runner is a commuter train that runs from Belen (my hometown) to Santa Fe (the state capitol), it started running on July 14, 2006 and I have been riding it to get to work and back for over a year now. In my opinion the train is a great thing for New Mexico to have for the locals and the visitors. The train runs seven days a week and extra trains for events going on in the state, which is great because parking at most of the stations is free and if you take the train to the event station, then there’s a shuttle there that will take you to the event, all you pay for is the train ticket. The tickets are really good prices, for me to drive to work and back costs $10 in a gas, my train ticket is $1 with my student discount.

On and off the train they have great features which make riding better for everyone. Off the train, like I stated above most of the stations have free parking, there are also bike storage's at most of the stations. On the train there are three levels, the first level they have a restroom, water fountain, wheelchair locks and a place to store your bike. The second and third levels have tables and power outlets, so you can charge your phone or plug in your laptop, another thing, which is my favorite, free wifi. When the doors close on the train it makes a noise that sounds like the Road Runner in the cartoons (beep beep), which it doesn’t matter how old you are it still makes you smile. To buy your tickets you can either buy them on the train or get a little discount buy purchasing it online and printing it out or having it on your phone. 

When departing the train, there are shuttles and buses waiting, to ride the buses it is free if you have your train ticket. There are shuttles that can take you around town, to other cities where the rail runner does not go and to the casinos. You can make a day trip and not have to worry about your car or paying for parking.

Delays, now I don’t particularly like when there are delays, but the delays are mostly for the passengers safety, not because they want to make people mad, more people need to understand that. They have a couple ways to let you know if there is a delay so you are not standing there waiting wondering when the train will get there, they can inform you by text messages and twitter. The rail runner is there for the people and to help save people a few bucks and help with making things more convenient. I hear people complain all the time about the train being late or going to slow. Well, they have restrictions for certain weather and other things just to keep people safe. In the past year I have seen some adults act like children over them going slow, those people bother me, and I’d rather be safe then hurt in a train wreck. Also, all of the staff is trained in CPR and life saving equipment, they are all about safety, and sometimes I feel bad for the crew when a passenger gives them a hard time over something so small.

People that ride the train keep to themselves or gossip to their friends, then, there those who talk about things that the people around don't want to know. I have never had a problem on the train, the people who ride are nice and are just doing what you’re doing, going to school or work. It’s so nice for many people in so many different ways, even field trips during the school year you will see kids going on a field trip. I have seen people on celebrating their anniversary and rode the train to Santa Fe for the weekend.

 

The crew members are just awesome, I have my favorites and I have my least favorites, but they all still do a wonderful job. They can always make a bad day better just by smiling and saying good morning or joking around with you. One morning when I got on the train I wasn’t in the best mood and the conductor told me ‘you need to smile, you have a pretty smile, it will make other people have a good day’, needless to say I smiled all the way to work. The conductors wear red and the ticket agents wear yellow. I have heard people complain about them and I don't see how they do wrong, it is usually the passenger, but the crew members stay claim and handle everything in a professional respectful way, in other words, they do their jobs and they are all good at it.

 The customer service is by far great, whether it’s on the train or it is to the main office. It is a great thing to utilize and meet new people, also to see this beautiful state in a different way. So if you live or are coming to New Mexico ride the rail runner it's pretty great.