About

Hate Train is a drama series directed by Larry Layfield and produced by LaTonja Sutton that follows a railroad union executive grappling with a deeply ingrained racist ideology. The narrative explores his journey as he confronts his prejudices and must ultimately decide whether to remain steadfast in his views or embrace profound personal change. The series began principal photography in Albuquerque and Farmington, New Mexico. The production employed over 50 New Mexico residents, including 12 resident crew members, seven principal actors, and 38 background talent. Hate Train strategically leveraged two New Mexico tax incentives: the standard 5% uplift for television series and a 10% rural filming uplift for production days in Farmington, a city in San Juan County in the state's northwest corner. Farmington's railroad heritage and rural landscape provide an authentic backdrop for a story centered on the rail industry and the racial tensions embedded in organized labor history. New Mexico's film incentive program, which offers a base 25-35% refundable tax credit on qualified spending, has made the state one of the most attractive production destinations in the country. The additional TV series and rural uplift bonuses can push the effective incentive above 50%, making it particularly appealing for independent series like Hate Train that benefit from lower costs and location authenticity outside traditional production hubs.