Rio Line Train travels between the Albuquerque Zoo and Aquarium/Garden

The Albuquerque BioPark offers two train rides on narrow gauge, 3/4 scale trains. The Thunderbird Express Zoo Train loops through the zoo, and the Rio Line travels between the Zoo and Aquarium/Botanic Garden with a stop at Tingley Beach.

The Rio Line train route runs between the Botanic Garden and the Zoo, stopping at each facility and the Tingley train station. Conductors give an intepretive tour and answer your questions as you ride.

Schedule
Trains arrive at each station approximately every half-hour.
Tingley Depot: - located at Tingley Beach on on Tingley Drive. You may park to the north or the south of the depot and than walk in.

• First train leaves at 10 am to Aquarium/Garden.
• Last train leaves to Aquarium/Garden at 3 pm Tuesday through Sunday.

Aquarium/Garden Depot - located in the aquarium-garden parking lot at the intersection of Central and Tingley Drive.

• First train leaves at 10:15 am heading to Zoo
• Last train leaves at 3:45 pm Tuesday through Sunday, heading to Zoo. 

Zoo - Asia Depot - located at the north end of the Zoo beyond the giraffes and elephants (follow the signs)

• First train leaves at 10:15 am to Tingley and Aquarium/Garden.
• Last train to Tingley and Aquarium/Garden leaves at 3:45 pm Tuesday through Sunday.

 
Cost and Where to Buy Tickets
With a combo ticket to visit the Zoo, Aquarium and Garden unlimited train rides on all trains are included, and passengers may get off or on at any station. Combo tickets are available from cashiers at the entrance to the Zoo and Aquarium/Garden.

With a one-day Aquarium/Garden day ticket : Purchase at the Aquarium Gift Shop. You may not get on or off at the Zoo Station with this kind of ticket.

Tickets for the train ride only: Purchase at the Tingley Gift Shop; $2 adults, $1 children age 3- 12. You may not get on or off at the Zoo Station with this kind of ticket. However, you may get off at the Aquarium/Garden station.

People with a one-day Zoo ticket may not ride the Rio Line from the Zoo, but can purchase tickets for the Zoo Train from Africa.

New Mexico BioPark Society  members pay $2 for all train tickets, regardless of age, and are then entitled to unlimited rides for the day on the Zoo Train and the Rio Line. Members should buy train tickets from cashiers at the entrance of the Zoo or Aquarium/Garden.

School Groups may not use the Rio Line to transport students between the Zoo and the Aquarium/Garden. Use your school buses.