The New Mexico Rail Runner Express won't offer train service this Friday, something local business owners and cultural event organizers are hoping they can change before next year's big shopping day.

The train is scheduled to run Saturday and Sunday, but not Friday, said Lawrence Rael, director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments.

That's because the day after Thanksgiving in the past has seen very few passengers, he said.

"The ridership just wasn't there," he said, although he pointed out that train service in metropolitan Albuquerque wasn't extended north to Santa Fe until December of last year.

In addition, he said, some maintenance needed to be done, including on a few crossings, and Friday seemed like a logical day to get that done.

State government workers — the biggest chunk of weekday train riders — are off work Friday, along with other government employees.

While some local business owners say they understand that train track safety has to come first, the move nonetheless has left them disappointed.

"For (there to be no service on) Thanksgiving, that makes sense," said Simon Brackley, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. "But the day after is certainly not a holiday to anyone in the tourism and retail business. It's Black Friday and all our of stores and galleries stay open on that day — we welcome many, many visitors."

Apart from being one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Friday also kicks off the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts' Winter Showcase, which runs through Sunday.

SWIA external communications director Gabe Gomez said the group was surprised to learn the train won't be carrying eventgoers to Santa Fe.

"It just doesn't make a lot of sense," Gomez said. "It's a day off for a lot of people, and a lot of people are coming up here."

This year, tourists are filling local hotels, Brackley said, which is good news.

"It's just that they won't be able to take the train up here," he said of visitors.

Elizabeth Pettus, who owns the store Things Finer along with her husband, said she wishes the nonservice would have been communicated sooner to business owners.

But, she said, safety is more important.

"We're not upset and we totally understand."

Still, she and others will work to get service for the day after Thanksgiving next year.

"I think if everyone is aware of how concerned we are and how important it is, we'll have better luck then," she said.

The Rail Runner will run on a regular weekday schedule through Wednesday, and on a weekend schedule on Saturday and Sunday. See nmrailrunner.com for details on train times.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.