January 28, 2019 - ksn.com -

Wichita, Kansas (KSNW) - You can get on a train in Newton and head to Los Angeles or Chicago, but Wichita has not had Amtrak trains stopping in town since the 1970s – but that could soon change.

"It's the Heartland Flyer, the route that would go from Newton to parts south in Oklahoma and into Texas," Newton City Commissioner Barth Hague said.

Hague went to Topeka last week to hear about the possibility of Amtrak expanding.

"Amtrak officials were very clear to the Senate Ways and Means committee that there is promise for the Heartland Flyer going forward," Hague said.

Hauge says before the Heartland Flyer starts running from Newton to Wichita into Oklahoma and Texas, there are issues that have to be resolved. First, the state has to fix some issues with the Southwest Chief route that currently stops in Newton. Another issue is seeing what states like Kansas and Oklahoma would do in the way of helping start and sustain service.

Read more: https://www.ksn.com/top-stories/kansans-optimistic-on-passenger-rail-to-oklahoma-texas/1733639179