July 9, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

Members from a number of Oklahoma union organizations did a "ride-along" on the Texas-Oklahoma partnered Heartland Flyer Wednesday to show their support for the popular train, which is facing a funding issue. 

While the state of Oklahoma indicates there is sufficient funding to operate the daily Fort Worth-Gainesville to Oklahoma City service through the end of the year, Texas has yet to commit it's dual share for operations. A bi-partisan group of North Texas legislators have been working behind the scenes to find a source. Last year the Flyer carried over 80,000 passengers between the two states. 

The "ride-along" day was organized by Kyle Pense, Oklahoma State Legislative Director of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union workers (SMART). Conductors that work for Amtrak, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad are under the SMART union umbrella. 

Union members from Oklahoma AFL-CIO, state teachers union, International Association of Machinists, Communication Workers of America and others were aboard the train from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth and returned to the Sooner state that evening after spending a few hours in Cowtown. Along the way on the train, discussions were held on the importance of maintaining and expanding the passenger service, which also serves smaller cities and towns that have limited or no other ground transportation choices. 

Some of the "ride-along" group pictured at Fort Worth Central Station included conductors from BNSF Railway, members of the Oklahoma Education Association and passenger rail advocates. The Heartland Flyer, which is operated by Amtrak under a contract by the two states, runs on BNSF Railway tracks between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.