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New Mexico's Rail Runner Express stops in El Paso
May 8, 2009

El Paso officials said they are working New Mexico and Texas officials to help bring the commuter train which connects the New Mexican cities of Belen and Santa Fe to the El Paso and Las Cruces area.

Written by Gustavo Reveles Acosta , The El Paso Times

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The New Mexico Rail Runner Express made a stop Friday in El Paso. (Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)

EL PASO - New Mexico's Rail Runner Express made a pit stop in El Paso today to give the public a glimpse of what commuter rail in the region could look like.

El Paso officials said they are working New Mexico and Texas officials to help bring the commuter train which connects the New Mexican cities of Belen and Santa Fe to the El Paso and Las Cruces area.

"This would be a great project for the region," said Mayor John Cook. "This project would go a long way in helping us be environmentally friendly by connecting the communities using a transportation that is cleaner than traditional cars." An estimated 17,000 people commute between El Paso and Las Cruces every day, and the rail would help reduce traffic along Interstate 10.

officials said commuter trains have a lot of support, and an El Paso to Las Cruces line could be established using rail lines that are now being used by freight trains.

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