June 12, 2019 - TRA Newswire / The Oklahoman -
Katie Moore, who as an 11 year old back in 1999, picked the winning name for the train that serves Texas and Oklahoma every day, accepts a "golden ticket" and a souvenir shirt during a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the return of passenger rail service to Oklahoma at Santa Fe Depot in downtown Oklahoma City Friday morning, June 14, 2019. The Heartland Flyer is celebrating its 20th year of serving passengers in Oklahoma and Texas. Time Gatz, pictured, is the state's secretary of transportation and serves as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Moore, of Oklahoma City, and her family attended the event. The Heartland Flyer, which runs daily, has carried more than 1.4 million passengers between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth during the past two decades. Originating its route on Oklahoma City, the Heartland Flyer connects to the Texas Eagle train in Fort Worth, which provides service to major cities including Dallas, Little Rock, St. Louis or Austin and San Antonio.
A crowd was on hand in Fort Worth when the southbound train arrived.
In 1999, passenger rail made a return to the Sooner State as the Amtrak Heartland Flyer hit the rails between Oklahoma and Texas. Now the train is readying for its 20th anniversary on June 14 with celebrations and a summer of savings for passengers.
The daily service by Amtrak has carried more than 1.4 million passengers between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth during the past two decades. The line was initiated thanks to federal funds received by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to start Amtrak service. ODOT and the Texas Department of Transportation contribute funds annually to continue the daily operations. The Heartland Flyer connects to the Texas Eagle train in Fort Worth, which provides service to major cities including Dallas, Little Rock, St. Louis, or Austin and San Antonio.
“The Heartland Flyer continues to be a major transportation solution for connecting Oklahoma to rail options nationwide,” Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said. “We appreciate the support of Oklahomans and Texans for this line and look forward to opportunities to keep it growing in the future.”
Additional:
Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer runs from Fort Worth to OKC. How did the train get its name?
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/honkin-mad-blog/article231640668.html
Additional: https://www.woodwardnews.net/oklahoma/news/amtrak-heartland-flyer-celebrates-years-on-track-in-oklahoma-and/article_60ada72e-215c-5768-b726-e1c99343ce1f.html
Additional photos: https://oklahoman.com/gallery/6040282/heartland-flyer-turns-20
Katie Moore, who as an 11 year old back in 1999, picked the winning name for the train that serves Texas and Oklahoma every day, accepts a "golden ticket" and a souvenir shirt during a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the return of passenger rail service to Oklahoma at Santa Fe Depot in downtown Oklahoma City Friday morning, June 14, 2019. The Heartland Flyer is celebrating its 20th year of serving passengers in Oklahoma and Texas. Time Gatz, pictured, is the state's secretary of transportation and serves as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Moore, of Oklahoma City, and her family attended the event. The Heartland Flyer, which runs daily, has carried more than 1.4 million passengers between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth during the past two decades. Originating its route on Oklahoma City, the Heartland Flyer connects to the Texas Eagle train in Fort Worth, which provides service to major cities including Dallas, Little Rock, St. Louis or Austin and San Antonio.
A crowd was on hand in Fort Worth when the southbound train arrived.
In 1999, passenger rail made a return to the Sooner State as the Amtrak Heartland Flyer hit the rails between Oklahoma and Texas. Now the train is readying for its 20th anniversary on June 14 with celebrations and a summer of savings for passengers.
The daily service by Amtrak has carried more than 1.4 million passengers between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth during the past two decades. The line was initiated thanks to federal funds received by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to start Amtrak service. ODOT and the Texas Department of Transportation contribute funds annually to continue the daily operations. The Heartland Flyer connects to the Texas Eagle train in Fort Worth, which provides service to major cities including Dallas, Little Rock, St. Louis, or Austin and San Antonio.
“The Heartland Flyer continues to be a major transportation solution for connecting Oklahoma to rail options nationwide,” Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said. “We appreciate the support of Oklahomans and Texans for this line and look forward to opportunities to keep it growing in the future.”
Additional:
Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer runs from Fort Worth to OKC. How did the train get its name?
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/honkin-mad-blog/article231640668.html
Additional: https://www.woodwardnews.net/oklahoma/news/amtrak-heartland-flyer-celebrates-years-on-track-in-oklahoma-and/article_60ada72e-215c-5768-b726-e1c99343ce1f.html
Additional photos: https://oklahoman.com/gallery/6040282/heartland-flyer-turns-20