Saturday, February 3, 2007
About 200 riders catch first train leaving Belen station early Friday.
Belen A thin dusting of snow covered the ground early Friday morning as the New
Mexico Rail Runner pulled into the Belen station in the dark to a crowd of eager
people ready to ride the rails.
For Belen residents, it was a two-for-one special with the arrival of the New
Mexico Rail Runner commuter train and the new Rail Café, which opened its doors
to commuters, residents and Rail Runner staff looking for a hot cup of coffee
and a muffin.
"This is what I've been waiting for," said Frederica Chavez as she stood outside
the train station.
Chavez, who works in Albuquerque in addition to going to school there, said for
her the Rail Runner will be a great source of transportation.
While many residents were catching the train for the first time, Joe Maestas
said he's been riding it from the Los Lunas station since it began stopping
there in December.
I have zero complaints," he said.
Thomas Lytle said it was a good day for the train to start, with the icy
conditions on the road. "It will save some people some trouble," he said.
With the southern-most station coming online, an additional train was added to
the schedule allowing for earlier departures south in the morning to Belen as
well as in the afternoon.
Mary Phillips works at Lovelace Hospital, and she said she will save quite a bit
of money on gas by using the Rail Runner, especially with the fare being free
for the next two months.
"I think this is going to be a good deal," Phillips said.
Anita Ulibarri said she has been anxiously waiting the past six months for this
day to arrive. "Isn't this exciting?" Ulibarri said, smiling. "Belen is up and
coming — welcome to the 21st century."
Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments
(MRCOG), said a little more than 200 people caught the first two trains north to
Albuquerque from the Belen station Friday morning.
"I'm happy with the ridership," he said.
With only weekday service available at this time, Rael said his agency was
looking at possibly providing some service on Saturdays and Sundays this summer.
"We'd like to see some weekend service, and it is on our agenda," Rael
explained. "I will say we're looking at it, but for now we need to get our basic
service in place."
A traffic signal at Reinken and Wisconsin, installed to ease traffic congestion
as commuters pull into the station, is expected to be turned on next week, Rael
said. At first, it will just flash for caution rather than stopping traffic.
Meanwhile, the new Rail Cafe near the station was getting its first
early-morning customers and, although they still have some work to do before
they are fully operational, Tom Greer, one of three partners, said they want to
make it a fun destination at the end of the line.
"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them," Greer said.
The cafe will have an assortment of coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, café lattes
and hot chocolate. It will also offer homemade pastries, soups and panini
sandwiches beginning early next week. Plans to start a lunch delivery service
are also in the works, and Shawn Kiehne, another partner, said he thinks it will
be a fun business.
"Our bakery should be in operation Monday or Tuesday," Kiehne said.
Greer added that right now they plan to be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to
around 7:30 or 8 p.m., when the last train comes into the station.
A large crowd of people showed up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday
afternoon, officially welcoming the Rail Runner to Belen.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said the Rail Runner was a result of partnerships from all
the communities.
"This is a great beginning for Belen and another exciting opportunity," Denish
said. "It's not only the beginning of better transportation but also a good
thing for young people to learn the need to conserve energy."
Belen Mayor Ronnie Torres said, laughing, that the Rail Runner was like having a
baby that's been overdue for a while.
"I'm so excited we have a commuter rail here," Torres said. "It's about bringing
people to Belen to see the culture and history we have here. This is ours —
let's make sure we keep it looking good and treat it with respect."
Bosque Farms Mayor Wayne Ake added that it was a great day for the citizens of
Valencia County.
