Government analysts blamed the drop in ridership on low gas prices, infrequent service, and long travel times, and recommended that the state focus on making the service more competitive with car travel. It was also suggested that service to the Downtown Bernalillo station be reduced or eliminated due to low ridership. The Rail Runner operates seven days a week. The goal is to provide alternative transport for commuters, visitors, and vacationers from Belen to Santa Fe. The current weekday schedule is 11 northbound trains. Three trains from Belen-Santa Fe stop at all stations, while a morning express train skips over Sandia Pueblo and Downtown Bernalillo. Three trains depart Belen-Albuquerque, and four trains depart Albuquerque-Santa Fe. Rio Metro operates a bus from Belen to Albuquerque in the morning that makes stops at each Rail Runner station. The Saturday schedule has four northbound trains from Belen-Santa Fe throughout the day, and one final train in the evening from Belen-Albuquerque. Trains stop at all stations. The Sunday schedule has three Belen-Santa Fe trips, also stopping at all stations. The weekday schedule heading south has a total of 11 trains. There are four trains from Santa Fe-Belen, three trains that make all stops from Santa Fe-Albuquerque, an evening express train that makes limited stops from Santa Fe-Albuquerque, and three trains from Albuquerque-Belen. Rio Metro operates an express bus from Sandoval County/US 550 to Downtown Albuquerque in the morning, and another bus from Albuquerque to Belen, making all stops at Rail Runner stations. Saturday trains are scattered throughout the day, with three trains from Santa Fe-Belen, two trains from Albuquerque-Belen, and a final evening train from Santa Fe-Albuquerque. Sunday trains are also limited, with two Santa Fe-Belen trains, one Albuquerque-Belen train in the morning, and a final evening train from Santa Fe-Albuquerque. During government holidays, the Rail Runner will either operate on a regular schedule, a Saturday schedule, or will have no service. Days surrounding holidays (such as Christmas) will usually see normal weekday service. Special schedules, such as the New Mexico Wine Festival, will use a Saturday schedule, but with added trains. The Balloon Fiesta is another event in which the Rail Runner does not add extra trains, but provides free shuttles to riders from the Los Ranchos/Journal Center Station to Balloon Fiesta Park and back. For four months in 2009, Rail Runner operated game-day trains to sporting events to Lobo Station.