New Mexico Rail Runner to Build Maintenance Facility

The new indoor operations and maintenance facility will shield crews from the elements.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:05pm

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The New Mexico Rail Runner, a nearly 20-year-old transit icon, is finally getting a modern maintenance facility after decades of crews working in the open elements. The new indoor operations and maintenance facility will shield workers and equipment from wind, rain, snow, and heat, while also helping to speed up maintenance and reduce emissions.

Why it matters

The Rail Runner has been an important part of New Mexico's public transportation system for two decades, but its maintenance crews have had to work in harsh outdoor conditions the entire time. This new facility will significantly improve working conditions and productivity for the Rail Runner's operations.

The details

The new facility will be located off Broadway and Iron in Albuquerque. It will include cranes for lifting equipment and specialized tools to service the trains. The design is currently about 35% complete, with the goal of finishing the design phase by the end of the year. The Rail Runner is also planning to get community feedback on the building's design, with one idea being to make it resemble the nearby Rail Yards.

  • The Rail Runner has been in service for nearly 20 years.
  • The design phase for the new maintenance facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
  • Rio Metro hopes to break ground on the new facility next summer.

The players

Rio Metro Regional Transit District

The agency that operates the New Mexico Rail Runner.

Robert Gonzales

Director of Operations for the Rio Metro Regional Transit District.

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What they’re saying

“We've been in the elements for the last 20 years. We're doing a lot of intricate work on our trains, servicing our trains. So, they've been out in these elements forever.”

— Robert Gonzales, Director of Operations

“I think right now what we're looking at is kind of getting them a better quality of life and make it more productive.”

— Robert Gonzales, Director of Operations

What’s next

Rio Metro hopes to break ground on the new maintenance facility next summer after completing the design phase by the end of 2026.

The takeaway

The new indoor maintenance facility for the New Mexico Rail Runner will provide a much-needed improvement in working conditions for the transit system's crews, allowing them to perform critical repairs and servicing in a protected environment and boosting overall productivity.