Commuter trains are offering a new way to travel from Santa Fe to the airport in Albuquerque . What are the pros and cons of using public transportation versus a private vehicle? The New Mexican sent two reporters on a mission to answer that question last week.

We began at the Santa Fe Depot, then parted ways. I rode the New Mexico Rail Runner Express and took a short shuttle ride to the Albuquerque International Sunport. Meanwhile, Henry Lopez drove his Honda south on Interstate 25.

As expected, Henry won the race in his car, arriving at the airport before I did. But to our surprise, the outcome was close. He beat me by only 12 minutes.

On the way, I curled up under a blanket, read a book, talked on the phone and watched the world go by outside the large train windows. The train arrived at the Alvarado Station in downtown Albuquerque on time, and I walked down a ramp to where the city buses pick up passengers. I boarded a free shuttle that zipped over to the airport with no stops. There was plenty of room on both services for my luggage, and I did not encounter any problems.

Meanwhile, Henry sang to himself as he drove in privacy. He stopped to fill up with gas and to buy a hot dog and a soda at San Felipe Pueblo, and paid close attention to not breaking the posted speed limit. He also paid to park in the airport garage.

Our experience — captured on video and now posted on the newspaper Web site — led to the following analysis:

Riding the train is certainly the more economical option for the consumer. Santa Fe County residents don't have to buy tickets for the first three months of service. That eliminates the cost of gas, parking, and wear and tear on a vehicle.

When full fares go into effect, the train will still cost less than driving. A one-way ticket from Santa Fe to downtown Albuquerque will cost $6 for adults, but children under 10 ride free. Students and seniors pay $3. Compare that to the cost of a private vehicle — calculated by the AAA at 54 cents per mile, or more than $35 for a one-way trip to the airport. Direct airport shuttle services provided by private companies start at $25 one way.

Alternately, having your own car means that you control your destiny to a greater extent. If you are running late, you can still get there. If you're hungry, you can stop and grab a bite.

On the train, you can bring your own food, but there's nothing to buy. If trains are delayed along the way — as they sometimes are — that could cause problems with catching a flight on time. If you are late to the train station, chances are you won't be able to climb aboard.

However, in the event of bad weather or car accidents that close or stall traffic on the interstate, being on the train could offer more freedom.

Another detractor of the Rail Runner is that getting back from the airport is challenging, especially if you return on a Sunday flight. Sunday service is available during a three-week pilot period that ends after Jan. 4, but the schedule is more limited than the commuter-oriented weekday routes.

The New Mexican's Natalie Guillen and Henry Lopez contributed to this report