New Mexico commuter rail service?

[eolafan]

Just returned from trackside and saw a westbound BNSF freight drop off a bunch of cars into the Eola West Yard in Aurora and they included a New Mexico Rail passenger car painted white with red and maroon stripes. Anybody know of a new passenger rail service in New Mexico?[?]

[jeaton]

Albuquerque. Service will run between Belen and some point north of Albuquerque using the BNSF (Former ATSF) line. Eventually, plans are for service to run to Santa Fe, but as the mudchicken has noted, that might be done around the time that pigs start to fly.

Big question as to how the service will do. For a couple of weekdays out there last fall, I did not see any killer rush hour traffic jams, but then I was not looking too hard.

Jay

[Anonymous]

The first RailRunner arrived at the yard here in Albuquerque on August 30th, and has been there since. I don't know where the other 9 cars are. The train is expected to run between Belen and Bernalillo.

[Anonymous]

Why are some people predicting the new commuter line will fail? There were those who said that the Simi Valley (CA) line wouldn't work, couldn't pry Angelenos out of their cars, but they were wrong.

Now, it might have to be heavily subsidized, but are there really any commuter lines at all on which service was initiated AFTER 1950 that later had to cease operations?

[eolafan]

Yes, RailRunner is exactly what it said on this nice looking car, which kind of looked like an old GO Transit car from Ontario, Canada...could it be from there?

[Anonymous]

I believe those cars are out of Bombardier, and I believe a different patent (or set of patents) applies to the "wavy" cars, as opposed to the Pullman-Standard bi-levs used in Chicago and some other cities. Unless someone corrects me, I'm guessing both the Toronto GO and the RailRunner are both using that Bombadier-style technology.

[jeaton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by smalling_60626

Why are some people predicting the new commuter line will fail? There were those who said that the Simi Valley (CA) line wouldn't work, couldn't pry Angelenos out of their cars, but they were wrong.

Now, it might have to be heavily subsidized, but are there really any commuter lines at all on which service was initiated AFTER 1950 that later had to cease operations?

I was not saying it isn't going to work, just saying that it might not be as useful as most other rail transit services. Compared to cities of the same population, Albuquerque has the lowest population density. I seemed to me that rush hour movement on the city streets was quite good, and I would be willing to bet that commuting trip times by motor vehicle in the area are low compared to other areas of comparable population.

But hey, it ain't gonna hurt.

Jay

[Anonymous]

Well I'm from the ABQ area so I know for a fact that that ridership isn't going to be super-high. The 1.2 Million or so people in the greater Albuquerque and Belen area have never really embraced the idea of mass transit. I think people will ride the train, but not as many as hoped. Who knows, this may turn out to be a very succeful commuter service. I have pictures of the first car made by Bombardier, and they got a spiffy white, yellow, and red paint job.

[Gunns]

Hi All
I live in Rio Rancho, an hardly ever get down town dure to the lack of parking, I think that the comuter service will increase patronage of the downtown area.


I am a member of the NMSL&RHS and we a are restoring the 2926,
Mousy if you are in town you should come down to the work site on a Sat or Wends, I'll show you around.... We are on 8th street 3 blocks south of I40

Gunns

[jockellis]

G'day, Y'all,
Gunns, your girlfriend wears her weight well.
Re: commuter rail in Albuquerque, here in Atlanta, the nay sayers are hard at work trying to convince the Georgia Highway Depart. -- oops, Georgia Department of Transportation -- that Atlantans would rather die than abandon their cars for rail. The only thing that scares me is that GDOT will *** it with faint marketing and staff it with WWII passenger agents who did all they could to discourage passengers from taking the train. A GDOT study showed 1,800 people would ride the train from 26 miles south of Atlanta into the city. But that was when gas was at about $1.40. At $2.50, that figure will undoubtedly rise. But I thought that their figures were lowe to start off with because even if Atlantans would only give up cars when their cold, dead fingers were prised off the steering wheel, the joke is on GDOT because no Atlantans live in Atlanta. Everyone is from somewhere else. This place is full of carpetbaggers who took light rail, heavy rail or subway where they lived in the North and would love to again.
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A

[Anonymous]

I'm curious on just who will be contracted to staff the trains--BNSF workers are some low wage non union scab outfit?

[Anonymous]

The New Mexico Railrunner (which, by the way is also the name of our local N-Trak club) will consist of Bombardier coaches and F59PHI motive power. Initially, the line is scheduled to run between Belen and Bernalillo. Right smack in between those two towns is Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico. According to the Governor's representative, the line will be extended to Santa Fe (Approx. 60 miles north of Albuquerque) in 2006-2007. They plan on laying new track from Bernalillo to Santa Fe since the line from Lamy to Santa Fe is too light to be using BNSF and Santa Fe Southern track. Service is supposed to begin by the end of 2005 and the Bombardier coaches are presently at a siding in Belen.

[rogerssantafe]

I hope the commuter service goes well.
Here in Dallas they said Texans would never give up their vehicles, but DART rail is very successful. Most rush hour trains are full and off peak trains are not running empty. DART's biggest problem is they can't expand the system fast enough.
I love visiting Albuquerque and look forward to the train ride to Belen.

[Anonymous]

sammythebull asked who would staff the commuter train.... I'm betting they won't have any problem with getting a staff.... I wouldn't mind working the train..

[Anonymous]

About the New Mexico commuter. The pictures I see this week are bombardier. I retired 2 years ago out of So Calif. as am Amtrak engineer. The same cars on Metrolink in and ouot of LA. Also the Coaster between Oceanside and Sandiego. In Seattle there using the same thing on the Sounder. They all work good, until you hit something in push mode, it can be bad. Gordon in Sequim, Washington

[Anonymous]

The New Mexico Rail Runner phase one commuter service was set to start service by November.
But so far, only five cab cars are now parked in Albuquerque near the former ATSF turntable and old shops buildings. We're waiting for the rest of the equipment-- five Motive Power locos and five trailer coaches to show. And, unfortunately, no work has been started yet on the planned seven stations.
Yes, there is need for this service. Checking north-south I-25 at rush hours: very busy....12,000 workers inbound from the north, 19,000 from the south, per Mid-Region COG stats. Herzog Services has been hired to run things. I also am member of NMSL&RHS restoring ATSF 4-8-4 2926 nearby.

[daveklepper]

Great to know a AT&SF 4-8-4 will be restored. A great locomotive.

[eihndrsn]

Have a look at http://nmgrip.com/projects.asp?project=14913
on this web site you will learn that NM now owns the Santa Fe Southern. It gives details of most of the stations now planned and the reason for choosing that location.

[Anonymous]

To see the whole website for NM commuter rail, go to http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/ . Included in their site is a pdf file that shows traffic data, examples of what commuter rail is, locations and drawings of some of the stations, photos of the Bombardier cars under construction plus the exterior and interior views. The graphics show that the color scheme was inspired by the Santa Fe warbonnet, the NM state flag, and the roadrunner. This is hardly a classic color scheme, but it is much better than a lot of the transit and Amtrak color scheme we've seen in recent decades. The file shows that it is possible to start up a commuter rail line fairly quick and at a reasonable cost. Once a decision is reached, it need not take decades. Excessive time and expense has been used by road warriors to discourage any and all rail transit. On the Raton Pass Yahoo group, I read of a plan to connect the New Mexico commuter rail with the Denver area commuter rail system a few years after both systems are up and running. Here is one of the press releases on the proposed Front Range "commuter" rail project http://salazar.senate.gov/news/releases/050608trans_rail.htm .

[bnsfkline]

But heres the question. Were are the F59PHI's coming from? They were last produced in 2002 and have been taken out of the EMD Cataloge.

[daniel3197]

Here is the direct link to the official "New Mexico Railrunner webpage for this brand new commuter rail service:
http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm

[JLlamas]

Were are the F59PHIs coming from?
They're not F59PHIs. They're MP36PH-3Cs from Motive Power Industries in Boise, Idaho, very similar to the Caltrain Baby Bullet locos.

[Anonymous]

There are now seven Rail Runner coaches parked on temp storage tracks in Albuquerque, two more than last week. Three more to come.

But no sign yet of the five MP36 locos from Idaho.

And, I've heard that the station-building contractor has balked at starting any construction, apparently due to change-order prohibitions imposed by owner Mid-Region Council of Governments. A possible reason: recent excavations for an adjacent downtown intermodal Greyhound bus terminal project, still underway, uncovered contaminated earth, surprise foundations and forgotten utility lines. Weeks of unanticipated extra digging and tons of soil replacement resulted. Artifact discovery also slowed progress. The new Greyhound depot is located on the site of the old Albuquerque ATSF station which burned down almost ten years ago.

Many grade crossings need added protection. Signals still must be put up and wired between Isleta Junction and Belen Junction, some 17 miles of "dark territory". Passing sidings are needed along the 'Runner's mostly single-track route.

I'll be one of the first to ride the 'Runner'. But I fear the first train won't go "beep-beep" until well into next year.

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsfkline

But heres the question. Were are the F59PHI's coming from? They were last produced in 2002 and have been taken out of the EMD Cataloge.

Jim -- not F59PHIs, MP36-PH3Ss from Motive Power Industries! Metra's got 'em, like this one: www.fuzzyworld3.com/n040612.html

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Just to add to the confusion:
Metra (Chicago) has 27 MP36PH-3S (401-427)
Caltrain (San Francisco) has 6 MP36PH-3C (923-928)
The model difference is related to the HEP set-up, one has the HEP generator geared to the prime mover, the other has a separate diesel-generator set for HEP.

[eolafan]

And, I've heard that the station-building contractor has balked at starting any construction, apparently due to change-order prohibitions imposed by owner Mid-Region Council of Governments. A possible reason: recent excavations for an adjacent downtown intermodal Greyhound bus terminal project, still underway, uncovered contaminated earth, surprise foundations and forgotten utility lines. Weeks of unanticipated extra digging and tons of soil replacement resulted. Artifact discovery also slowed progress. The new Greyhound depot is located on the site of the old Albuquerque ATSF station which burned down almost ten years ago.


I CAN UNDERSTAND A CONTRACTOR WANTING PERMISSION TO ADD COST RELATED TO CHANGE ORDERS BASED ON THE ABVOE...THIS ALL WAS NOT THE CONTRACTORS FAULT UNLESS HE/SHE WAS RESONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS IN ADVANCE.