The New Mexico Rail Runner Express
is a commuter rail system serving the metropolitan area of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It began operation on July 14, 2006. The system is in Phase I of planned development,
operating on an existing BNSF Railway right of way from Belen to Bernalillo. Phase
II, scheduled to open in 2008, will extend the line northward to Santa Fe.
Amtrak's Southwest Chief passes through daily at stations in Gallup, Albuquerque,
Lamy, Las Vegas, and Raton, offering connections to Los Angeles, Flagstaff, Kansas
City, and Chicago. The only true transcontinental train in the United States, The
Sunset Limited makes stops three times a week in Lordsburg, and Deming.
Dona Ana County is served by both the
Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) (north-south) and the Union
Pacific-Southern Pacific Railroad (UPSP) (east-west). The Union Pacific is
currently developing a new terminal at Santa Teresa, designed to handle 100,000
containers per year.
