New Mexico Rail Runner Express

Brightline, South Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, has received proposals from the city of Fort Pierce and Audubon Development and a joint proposal from the city of Stuart and Marin County to host new stations along the Treasure Coast, a region comprising Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. (Brightline Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, PATH, Rail Runner Express, SMART

Florida cities submit Treasure Coast passenger rail station proposals to Brightline. Also, Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rapid transit in New York and New Jersey achieves record ridership in November; New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express makes permanent its monthly commuter rail fare discount; and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) will allow young people and seniors to ride free.

Ridership on New Mexico's Rail Runner Express is said to have nearly doubled since April: from 800 round-trips per day to the current average of more than 1,500.

Transit Briefs: InnoTrans; N.M. Rail Runner; NYCT

InnoTrans is offering North American attendees a discount to attend its biennial international event. Also, New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express regional/commuter rail service is extending its fare discount and adding service; and MTA New York City Transit has appointed four executives.

Wabtec and partner Rajant Corp. will provide high-speed wireless service for New Mexico Rail Runner Express riders (740,000 annually, pre-pandemic) along the 100-mile, 15-station line between Belen and Santa Fe.

Rail Runner: Upgrading Wireless Service, Implementing PTC

While New Mexico Rail Runner Express (NMRX) service remains suspended due to COVID-19, work is under way to upgrade the wireless network for its commuter rail fleet, which includes nine Wabtec-manufactured Rail Runner locomotives and nine cab cars. Positive Train Control (PTC) installation also continues.