Amtrak’s plans to expand its rail service could connect Oklahoma City to Wichita, Kan., and add one extra train to the Heartland Flyer route.
The Northern Flyer Alliance is trying to add a train to the Heartland Flyer so there will be two north-bound and two south-bound trains daily, said Evan Stair, vice president of Oklahoma for Northern Flyer Alliance.
“The second train would really help because now the OU students have to leave Friday morning or Saturday morning and come back Sunday evening,” said Donna Jones, train station hostess.
Jones said the Norman train station hosts an average of 20 train travelers every morning. She said there are approximately 400 passengers per month.
The Heartland Flyer, which currently travels daily between Fort Worth, Texas, through Norman to Oklahoma City, has an annual ridership of 82,000 and has operated since 1999, Stair said.
The Amtrak KS-OK-TX Feasibility Study, released March 11, gave four alternatives to connect the Heartland Flyer route with northern Amtrak cities.
One of the alternatives would add a day train to the Heartland Flyer track between Fort Worth, Texas, to Oklahoma City and a train between Oklahoma City to Kansas City, Mo. The third alternative would have the highest annual ridership of 174,000 and capital of $479 million, according to the study. It would add a morning departure from Fort Worth, Texas, to Norman to the evening departure and an afternoon departure from Norman to the morning departure.
The Heartland Flyer route will not change its times in any of the alternatives, Stair said.
There is a 200-mile gap between Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan., without any railroad service, according to the Northern Flyer Alliance Testimony to the Oklahoma House Transportation Committee on April 8.
Jones said a volunteer group in Wichita, Kan., has the support of Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson and the Kansas senators to extend the train to Wichita, Kan., which has not had the train since 1979. She said the tracks are already laid between Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan.
Stair said the legislative bills for the train extension were passed with 95 percent bipartisan support in Kansas. He said the additional train to Kansas City would connect Oklahoma to half of the national train system.
The benefits of adding the train outweigh the costs, and part of President Barack Obama’s High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program in the American Recovery Act of 2009 gives $8 billion to develop various rail programs, Stair said.
“The probability, I think, is very good with the federal dollars being available,” Stair said.
Stair said the most expensive operational scenario would have Oklahoma paying $3.4 million per year in addition to $2.3 million each year for the Heartland Flyer. He said the cost is very low compared to the $9 million it costs to pave a one-mile stretch on the interstate.
Stair said when gas prices increase to more than $2.40 per gallon, a train ticket becomes cheaper. He said some trains are experimenting with Wi-Fi.
“You just have to slow down a little bit and take the train,” Jones said. “[Driving] 2 1/2 hours, compared to riding on the train for four hours, is not that big of a difference.”
Jaimie Krycho, professional writing junior, said she took the train to Fort Worth, Texas, every other week during her freshman year. Krycho said she wanted to do homework during the time she would be driving.
“By the time I get to my parents, I can visit with them instead of doing my homework while I’m over there,” Krycho said.
Stair said for those who take the train, the benefits of rail travel become apparent.
“[The railroad system] is really kind of a hidden treasure in Oklahoma,” Stair said. “It could have much greater value to Oklahoma as the years progress.”
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gblatham 1 year, 11 months ago
I recently posted a column on Progressive Railroading's blog site entitled "KDOT versus reality." Anyone who's interested is cordially invited to read the piece:
http://myprogressiverailroading.com/blogs/gblatham/archive/2010/03/28/kdot-versus-reality.aspx
Thanks! Garl B. Latham Dallas, Texas
Lamborghini 2 years ago
The train is the BEST way to travel! When gas hits $10/gallon the country will wake up and realize how enjoyable train travel can be. For now... Americans like the privacy, convenience, and status of their cars.