The System

Formation of New Mexico Rail Link (2024)

New Mexico Rail Link was formed in 2024 following the dissolution of Montana Rail Link. Rather than allowing the historic north-south corridor through Montana and Wyoming to become fragmented among multiple operators, a consortium of investors, transportation agencies, regional railroads, and logistics interests created NMRL as a modern bridge carrier focused on connecting the Interior West.

The railroad inherited key portions of former Montana Rail Link infrastructure and developed strategic partnerships with regional carriers throughout Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

Key Milestones

2024

• NMRL established

• Former MRL routes integrated

• Missoula and Livingston retained

2025

• Pueblo Classification Terminal expanded

• Albuquerque Shops modernization begins

• Belen Intermodal expansion approved

2026

• LANL integration completed

• Farmington Expansion announced

• Sunport Logistics Corridor activated

• Spaceport America Spur approved

2027+

• White Sands logistics corridor

• Holloman support branch

• Expanded passenger initiatives

• Additional Canadian traffic via Spokane

2029

• Colorado Connector passenger service (planned)

NEW MEXICO RAIL LINK - An Inside Look

SPOKANE - MISSOULA - LIVINGSTON - BILLINGS - CASPER - CHEYENNE

The railroad’s primary mainline extends from Spokane, Washington, south through Missoula, Billings, Casper, Cheyenne, Denver, Pueblo, Albuquerque, Belen, and El Paso, creating a continuous inland freight corridor between Canada and Mexico. 

At Spokane, the system interchanges with Canadian carriers through the Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY), itself historically connected to Washington Companies ownership through the legacy of Montana Rail Link. This relationship provides NMRL with direct access to Canadian Pacific Kansas City traffic and Pacific Northwest trade flows, allowing the railroad to position itself as a continental bridge route for intermodal, manifest, agricultural, and industrial traffic.

The northern segment of the railroad preserves much of the operational identity of the former Montana Rail Link. Missoula remains a major dispatching and crew base, while Livingston Shops continue their historic role as heavy locomotive maintenance facilities supporting mountain operations. Across Montana and Wyoming, NMRL operates long-distance freight flows dominated by intermodal traffic, resource trains, agricultural products, and bridge freight moving between Canada, the Front Range, and the Southwest.

DENVER - PUEBLO - RATON - LAS VEGAS

South of Denver, the railroad transitions into its mountain and desert identity. Pueblo serves as the system’s principal classification yard, where manifest freight is sorted and rebuilt for destinations across the network. Beyond Pueblo, the Raton Subdivision represents the operational heart of the railroad — a demanding mountain corridor where helper service, distributed power, and precision dispatching are critical to maintaining fluidity. Southbound trains descend from the Rockies into New Mexico, where Albuquerque and Belen form the railroad’s southern operational core.

BERNALILLO - CUBA – BLOOMFIELD – FARMINGTON – NAVAJO MINE

The San Juan Basin Subdivision restores freight rail service to northwestern New Mexico, following the US 550 transportation corridor from Bernalillo Junction to Farmington. Designed as a modern freight artery, the line reconnects the San Juan Basin with the national rail network while supporting energy production, agriculture, manufacturing, transload operations, and industrial development.

At Bernalillo Junction, trains diverge from the Central New Mexico Division before climbing northwest through Cuba and the high mesas of northwestern New Mexico. Near Farmington, the line branches to serve local industries, the Navajo Mine Railroad corridor, and regional distribution facilities, restoring freight access to a region that has lacked direct rail service for decades.

LAS VEGAS - SANTA FE - BERNALILLO - ALBUQUERQUE - BELEN

The Central New Mexico Division is the operational heart of the New Mexico Rail Link. Stretching from Santa Fe through Bernalillo, Albuquerque, and south to Belen, it serves as the railroad's primary dispatching district, locomotive servicing center, and interchange gateway. Nearly every major freight movement on the NMRL passes through this corridor, making it the busiest subdivision on the system.

Where the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain traffic converges with the Southwest, the division functions as the railroad's "main street," linking Canadian and Colorado traffic with New Mexico, Texas, Mexico, and the broader national rail network.

The division traces its heritage to the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway main line through central New Mexico. Following the creation of New Mexico Rail Link in 2024, this corridor became the natural nucleus of the railroad due to its strategic location, existing infrastructure, and direct connections with BNSF.

Extensive rehabilitation of the historic Albuquerque Shops returned the complex to full heavy-maintenance capability, while Belen Terminal evolved into the railroad's principal classification yard. Together, the two facilities provide maintenance, dispatching, crew bases, locomotive servicing, and interchange operations for the entire system.

SOUTHERN DEFENSE & SUNPORT LOGISTICS CORRIDOR

Centered on the historic Kirtland rail spur, the corridor connects rail, air cargo, trucking, and foreign trade zone operations into a unified logistics platform. 

The corridor traces its history to Manhattan Project-era rail infrastructure serving Sandia National Laboratories. 

Following redevelopment by Sunport and New Mexico Transload, the corridor became one of the Southwest's most strategically positioned logistics assets.

BELEN • SPACEPORT AMERICA • LAS CRUCES • WHITE SANDS • HOLLOMAN AFB • SANTA TERESA • EL PASO

The Southwest Subdivision is the southern gateway of the New Mexico Rail Link, linking central New Mexico with the international border, the rapidly expanding aerospace industry, and some of the nation's most significant military and research installations. Stretching from Belen to El Paso, this corridor carries a diverse mix of intermodal, agricultural, industrial, automotive, energy, and defense-related traffic.

Unlike many western rail corridors that serve a single purpose, the Southwest Subdivision combines commercial logistics with strategic national infrastructure, making it one of the most important freight routes on the NMRL system.

Historically, southern New Mexico has been served by several major railroads, including the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The creation of New Mexico Rail Link in 2024 unified regional operations while preserving interchange with Class I carriers.

The subdivision was expanded beyond its traditional freight role through investments in multimodal logistics, industrial development, and renewed rail access to key defense installations. These improvements transformed the line from a regional freight corridor into one of the Southwest's premier transportation and strategic logistics routes.