Is the Rail Runner a Success?

We at the Rio Grande Foundation have long been critical of the Rail Runner. But Governor Richardson calls it a “success” and politicians around the state want the train extended to their communities. The ultimate plan seems to be to run it south to El Paso and north to Denver.

Unfortunately, as Jim Scarantino points out in his new report for the Rio Grande Foundation, “Red Ink Express,” and I point out in my article “Reports of Rail Runner’s success greatly exaggerated,” the Rail Runner is not a success, at least when it comes to operating with minimal government subsidy (and that doesn’t even include the massive $400 million taxpayers invested to build the system).