While hundreds — possibly thousands — of commuters are expected to pour into the city of Santa Fe on New Mexico Rail Runner trains today, Patsie Ross and her husband, Paul Milosevich, will wait for the weekend to climb on board.

That's when the retired Santa Fe couple plans to take advantage of the new train service south to Albuquerque for a change of scenery.

"When we get to Albuquerque, we hope to catch the bus ... and go to Old Town and look at the Christmas lights and things there, and eat maybe, and then come back on the train to Santa Fe," Ross said Tuesday after making a round of phone calls to confirm how the connections will work.

"We have always been dependent on a car, so it will be interesting to see if we can kind of wean our way," she said.

Trains began running between Albuquerque and Bernalillo in 2006, then expanded south to Belen, where rail cars at peak commuter times are nearly full every weekday.

The bulk of the ridership between Santa Fe and Albuquerque is expected to come from government employees and other workers who migrate here daily. However, next month's beginning of a 60-day legislative session should also bring groups of nontraditional riders.

Rep. Rick Miera, D-Albuquerque, said he drives about 50 days during a typical two-month lawmaking session, but this year, he hopes to ride the train. He expects some constituents to do the same.

"I'm the chairman of a committee, and we decide when the committee hearing is going to end, so we can end it just in time for the train," he said as he rode the rails with other dignitaries on a preview trip this week. "It won't just be for the legislators, but for people who will testify. I want people to use the train to come to Santa Fe and see the session, and it's up to us to make it easy for them to do that."

Under the current schedule, the last southbound train will leave the Santa Fe Railyard at 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, and on Saturdays, the last train departs at 11:15 p.m.

Some evening activities, however, won't be possible given the current schedule. Week-night dinner for Santa Feans in Albuquerque is one of them. The last northbound train leaves downtown Albuquerque at 6:35 p.m. on weekdays, though on Saturday nights, the last departure is at 9:29 p.m.

Train planners say schedules might be altered depending on future demand and funding. Trains will also run on Sundays for the first three weeks, but a schedule for that pilot route was not available at press time.

Riders headed for Albuquerque International Sunport can't make direct connections, but the state is offering a free shuttle service from the Alvarado station to the airport with schedules that match train arrival and departure times.

New Mexicans first enjoyed rail service in the late 19th century, when the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway won a race to enter the state from across the plains with its freight and passenger line. Amtrak has continued to serve passengers here.

But modern commuter train service for day-to-day travel only recently became a reality with the administration of Gov. Bill Richardson. When Richardson ran for governor in 2002, his platform included promises of establishing the trains.

The state had expected to pay for nearly one-fifth of the capital cost of the project with federal funds, but that fell through. Instead, Richardson asked the Legislature to authorize a bond program to pay for the nearly $400 million in capital costs, and after some hesitancy, it agreed.

Although work is not 100 percent complete, the project is on budget, planners say.

Critics still argue that the train took money away from roads, and this fall, some local government officials balked at state plans to pay for part of train operations with new gross-receipts tax levies. Voters in seven counties that the train serves, however, approved the taxes, the revenue from which also goes to fund local transit initiatives.

Santa Fe County residents can ride for free for the first three months of service, with zone-based fares kicking in after that. A trip from downtown Santa Fe to downtown Albuquerque, for example, will cost $6 one-way or $8 round trip.

Tickets may be purchased online or from conductors on the train. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rail Runner tickets also get the rider free passage on Santa Fe Trails and ABQRide buses as well as free admission to state museums.

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.