We’ve been warning you about the prospects of the Heartland Flyer Amtrak train being officially derailed because of the Texas Legislature’s move to no longer fund its share of the route between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.
Now it’s apparently official…the death notice has been announced by federal transportation officials who say the passenger rail service could end before Oct. 1 of this year. Amtrak indicated the Heartland Flyer, which resumed in 1999 with great fanfare and celebration in Oklahoma, could be suspended by that date, if Texas does not secure some funding for its share of the operation.
“Reliable rail service provides a vital transportation option for residents and visitors alike, strengthening regional mobility, economic development, and tourism,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris in the statement.
“With service that supports Texas’ continued economic growth and the region’s connectivity, sustaining the Heartland Flyer is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring long term mobility in the region.”
If that’s true, the service will end after 26 years of renewed service, carrying passengers to Texas with stops along the way in Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Ardmore, Gainesville and Fort Worth.
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