New Rail Hub Celebrates Grand Opening On The Border
The Southwest has a new transportation hub for domestic and international commerce. On Wednesday, Union Pacific Railroad celebrated the grand opening of its new $400 million facility in southern New Mexico.
Trains hauling long loads of multi-colored shipping containers moved in and out of the facility just outside the city of Santa Teresa. The rail hub started operations in April, a year ahead of schedule.
Officials from both sides of the border gathered Wednesday to tout the new station.
"These railroad tracks bring more than freight, they bring new business, new jobs and new hope," said U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico.
Trains stop at this facility to refuel and change crews on the way from California to the East Coast. The rail hub, which is 10 miles from the border, also moves commerce to and from Mexico. The facility can process more than 200,000 cargo containers per year. It will employ 300 to 600 people once it reaches full capacity in 2025.
"We're bringing in the raw materials to make computers, raw materials, to help bring finished automobiles," said facility superintendent Lance Hardisty.
New Mexico, like neighboring Arizona, is trying to boost trade with Mexico. In 2012 New Mexico grew its export market by 42 percent. Much of that growth is driven by new industry in the border region.
