Rail Runner Celebrates Five Million Riders!

And the Winner is…

(Albuquerque, NM – October 25, 2011)- This afternoon prior to the departure of the 4:30 pm southbound train at the Downtown Albuquerque Station, Los Lunas resident and loyal commuter Jerry Martinez became the five millionth passenger to ride the New Mexico Rail Runner Express!

“I’ve been riding the Rail Runner ever since it started”, said Martinez.  “I save money, I save time, and I get to work a lot less stressed after riding the train. I love it!”

The 52-year-old University of New Mexico maintenance worker says he boards the train at the Los Lunas Rail Runner Station every weekday, and rides it into Downtown Albuquerque where he catches a bus to his job each day at UNM.

“Jerry is a shining example of how commuters in our region can save money and help our environment by using public transportation,” said Dewey Cave, Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments – the agency that operates the Rail Runner.  “He is just one of many New Mexicans who has realized the convenience and economic benefits of the Rail Runner.”

The Rail Runner, which has become the fastest start-up of a commuter rail train in the country in the past 20 years, currently carries a daily average of approximately 4,000 commuters between the City of Santa Fe and the City of Belen.

For the distinction of five millionth passenger, Martinez was rewarded with a goody bag of Rail Runner items, including a pass to ride the train free for one year, an official Five Millionth Passenger Certificate and an additional gift bag donated by Costco.