Building for stock is a luxury that most railroad suppliers avoid.
NMRXfan al-in-chgo Re: "Livin La Vida Locomotive": Nice blog! - a.s. Thanks al-in-chgo , Like everyone else here, trains are a passion for me. From the Belen railyards to the Santa Fe railyard 100 miles north, through the Rio Grande valley to the Santa Fe mountains, a gain of over 2,000 ft., the Rail Runner presents a subject and backdrop that any railfan would love. If any get a chance to visit NM be sure and take a trip on her. She's a beaut. If there's room. Hopefully they'll be adding more cars and/or trains by then.
al-in-chgo Re: "Livin La Vida Locomotive": Nice blog! - a.s.
Re: "Livin La Vida Locomotive":
Nice blog! - a.s.
Like everyone else here, trains are a passion for me. From the Belen railyards to the Santa Fe railyard 100 miles north, through the Rio Grande valley to the Santa Fe mountains, a gain of over 2,000 ft., the Rail Runner presents a subject and backdrop that any railfan would love.
If any get a chance to visit NM be sure and take a trip on her. She's a beaut.
If there's room. Hopefully they'll be adding more cars and/or trains by then.
Do the companies that make the coaches have some stock (like bilevs) on hand in common configuration that is up for common sale (first come, first served), or is it more like locomotives in that the transportation company has to commission them and wait? Does it work the same in push-pull service for cars that both carry passengers and have an operations cab up front? That's another confusion for me! - a.s.
As far as rolling stock, this Wikipedia entry is probably the best source.
Rolling stock The Rail Runner power includes five Motive Power MPI MP36PH-3C diesel-electric locomotives that operate on biodiesel fuel.[23] Passenger cars include four Bombardier BiLevel Coaches and six 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 just south of Downtown Albuquerque, located just off the main rail line. The FRA reporting marks 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.
Rolling stock
The Rail Runner power includes five Motive Power MPI MP36PH-3C diesel-electric locomotives that operate on biodiesel fuel.[23] Passenger cars include four Bombardier BiLevel Coaches and six 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 just south of Downtown Albuquerque, located just off the main rail line.
The FRA reporting marks 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.
Motive Power
MPI MP36PH-3C diesel-electric locomotive
5
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier BiLevel Coach
4
Bombardier BiLevel Cab cars
6
For those interested in more info on this particular railway, I have a blog covering all things Rail Runner called... Livin La Vida Locomotive... that I update regularly.
Well DiningCar,
The company the state used to put together the bonds to fund Rail Runner IS part of the investigation into Richardson. The company gave heavily to the Richardson campaign for President and there is suspicion of a pay for play scheme having taken place.
As far as I know no other transportation needs were affected. In regards to your other questions, Wikipedia's page on the Rail Runner is probably the best source.
The capital costs of the Rail Runner project and funding for operations of the system in its first few years were covered by a combination of federal, state, and local funds. Phase I of the project was set to cost $135 million while Phase II was set to cost $250 million. Operational costs were expected to rise from $10 million for the first phase to $20 million after completion of the second phase. 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 of 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.
The capital costs of the Rail Runner project and funding for operations of the system in its first few years were covered by a combination of federal, state, and local funds. Phase I of the project was set to cost $135 million while Phase II was set to cost $250 million. Operational costs were expected to rise from $10 million for the first phase to $20 million after completion of the second phase.
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 of 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.
I'd love to know about the equipment roster too, if possible.
Slighty OT, but it seems that newer rail transit systems are either successful to the point of crowding (RailRunner, Charlotte's LYNX), or dismal (Nashville.) Are there any newer systems that are doing "just okay" or are in line with planners' estimates? - a.s.
I know that rail runner has 5 locomotives. How many Passenger cars does it have and what are the normal consists and how many consists does it take to cover the schedule?
Does Gov. Richardson's financial grand jury investigation have any ties to the construction of the line to Santa Fe?
Have the final costs been determined? Were other New Mexico transportation needs put aside for this project?
We who live elsewhere hear rumors about the above questions and would like to be better informed.
Many said that after the free introductory Rail Runner service, that ended after the X-mas holidays, usage of the train would dramatically drop off when people would have to start paying for the service.Wrong. That hasn't been the case at all...
Rail Runner riders pack trains to Santa Fe
It's a big problem the Rail Runner doesn't necessarily mind having, but would still like to resolve. So many people are packing trains to Santa Fe, some passengers are forced to stand for the whole ride. A massive game of musical chairs is how a lot of passengers start their ride. Open seats are rare during some morning rides to Santa Fe. The unlucky, and there have been many, have to stand for more than an hour. "They need to add more cars for starters," said one rider. [...]This past Saturday, 5,500 passengers rode the Rail Runner. That’s up 1,000 from the previous weekend. Lawrence Rael of the Rail Runner says the crowds prove the need for the train and he says it’s even more of a reason for service to Santa Fe to expand. "If folks will be patient with us, give us a couple of more months, we'll get together and see what we can put together," Rael said. Lawrence Rael of the Rail Runner says the crowds prove the need for the train and he says it’s even more of a reason for service to Santa Fe to expand. "If folks will be patient with us, give us a couple of more months, we'll get together and see what we can put together," Rael said.
I predict 2009 is going to be a big year for passenger rail service not only here in New Mexico, but across the nation.
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