April 21, 2025 - RailwayAge.com -

Could June 30, a deadline only ten weeks away at this writing, mark the final run for Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, the only passenger train in Oklahoma? That could happen, according to a report posted by the Texas Rail Advocates (TRA):

“North Texas is on the cusp of losing the only daily train that serves Fort Worth, Gainesville and Oklahoma points because the yearly funding for the train was stripped out of the Texas legislative budget. The Heartland Flyer, in operation since 1999, carried more than 80,000 passengers last year and is in jeopardy of being discontinued as early as June due to lack of funding. It would mean more than 50,000 vehicles a year back on Interstate 35 and a loss of sales tax revenue, hotel and restaurant traffic and well as tourist dollars if the train goes away.”

TRA President Peter LeCody defended the train and urged his fellow Texans to contact their legislators and ask them to keep the funding going. The above-cited report on the TRA website said: “This is an interstate transportation choice for many in North Texas. This train serves college students going to Norman and Oklahoma City or coming to Fort Worth, day tourists coming to Cow Town and it’s the only direct surface public transportation option between Fort Worth, Gainesville and other Oklahoma stops. You want to take a bus? You change in Dallas.” Rich Andreski, CEO of Trinity Metro, which operates the TEXRail line and buses in Fort Worth, told other attendees at the TRA’s Southwestern Rail Conference on April 8: “Now is the time to advocate.”

Read more: https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/heartland-flyers-end-of-the-line/?RAchannel=news

Photo credit: Amtrak