(The Raton Range posted the following story on its website on October 3.)
RATON, N.M. — Raton’s Amtrak ticket office apparently still has some life left in it.
Despite putting the public on notice more than a month ago that the office would close Aug. 26, the ticket office at the local train station remains open and manned by an Amtrak employee. That means people can still buy train tickets in Raton and get help with their baggage.
Back in mid-August, signs posted at the ticket office and passenger lounge in the depot – and confirmed by the local ticket office employee – said the ticket office would close Aug. 26, leaving Raton as an “unmanned station” along the route of the Southwest Chief, which comes through Raton twice a day.
But the ticket office never did close, and remained open Thursday, with no specific future plans being discussed locally. Amtrak supervisors in Albuquerque could not be reached for comment on the Raton office’s status.
A ticket office closure in Raton would not directly impact Raton’s status as an Amtrak stop along the train’s route, but would mean people would no longer be able to purchase tickets in Raton, and baggage handling would not be provided.
Raton ranks second to only Albuquerque in number of passengers getting on and off the train among Amtrak’s New Mexico stops.