Essay: The Last Train To Grand Canyon: How Amtrak Fails The National Parks--And America

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Keep in mind that we were without air service for about four years,

and the RailRunner is barely adequate for the commuters who use it. The abysmal frequency makes going to Albuquerque for dinner not possible, as the last train leaves downtown ABQ at 6:48pm. Those who want to come to Santa Fe are better off, as the last train leaves here at 9pm. There's no mid morning or mid afternoon train going south. The schedule was designed strictly for commuters, and not by anyone who understands the point of public transportation.

Among the reasons the small cities are dying everywhere is exactly that lack of passenger rail or passenger air service.

In the ten years I've lived here, I've flown in and out a handful of times. The first time I went to ABQ, which is a huge hassle in my opinion. All my other trips have been in and out of SAF, which I could just about walk to. I'm about three miles away. Earlier this year when my son came to visit I told him not to even look at air fares to ABQ, just book himself in and out of SAF. The previous time he'd come he'd used ABQ, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy and convenient this airport is.

The one time I looked into the bus to the ABQ airport it was something like $50, and didn't run after 5pm, or some such. My arrival there was at 7pm.

My essential point, as is yours, is that public transportation of any kind is sadly lacking in too many places.