In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express has experienced a modest increase in ridership. The number of riders in 2024 rose by 2.6% compared to 2023, signaling what might be considered a "new normal" for the commuter train system.

Despite this increase, current ridership levels remain significantly lower than those recorded in 2019. According to a report from the Legislative Finance Committee in 2024, "ridership would need to be increased by 23% in order to simply break even on CO2 emissions." This indicates that, at present, the Rail Runner is still a net carbon emitter when compared to personal vehicle use.

The decline in ridership numbers is stark when contrasted with figures from the early years of the Rail Runner's operation.