Jump to content

Heartland Flyer

Route map:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2600:1700:2f60:45e0:e914:f657:401d:31ac (talk) at 20:42, 24 June 2023 (Moved the Accident on top to a Tab called Accidents). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Heartland Flyer
The Heartland Flyer at Norman, Oklahoma, in June 2021
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
LocaleOklahoma and Texas
First serviceJune 14, 1999 (1999-06-14)
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Annual ridership80,371 (FY24) Increase 11.0%[a][1]
Route
TerminiOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Fort Worth, Texas
Stops7
Distance travelled206 miles (332 km)
Average journey time4 hours[2]
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)821, 822
On-board services
Class(es)Coach class
Disabled accessTrain lower level, all stations
Catering facilitiesCafé (snack coach)
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Technical
Rolling stockGE Genesis
Superliner
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed52 mph (84 km/h) (avg.)
79 mph (127 km/h) (top)
Track owner(s)BNSF

The Heartland Flyer is a daily passenger train that follows a 206-mile (332 km) route between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas. It is operated by Amtrak and jointly funded by the states of Oklahoma and Texas.[3] The train's daily round-trip begins in Oklahoma City in the morning and reaches Fort Worth in the early afternoon. It leaves Fort Worth during the afternoon rush for an evening return to Oklahoma City. Future plans call for the train's northern terminus to be extended from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas, with additional frequency along the original route.[4]

History

Route of the Heartland Flyer

At Amtrak's formation in 1971, the corridor was served by the railroad's Chicago–Houston Lone Star, itself the successor of the Santa Fe's Texas Chief. However, the Lone Star was discontinued in 1979, severing the state of Oklahoma from the national rail network. The Heartland Flyer was inaugurated on June 14, 1999, ending a 20-year absence of passenger rail in Oklahoma and North Texas. Senator Don Nickles sponsored a "Name the Train" contest, encouraging Oklahoma schoolchildren to pick a name for the new route. The winning name was submitted by Katie Moore, who christened the new train on its first run.[5][6]

First-year ticket sales totaled 71,400 passengers, more than triple Amtrak's projection of 20,000 riders.[7] The Heartland Flyer carried 68,000 passengers during FY 2007. In September 2007 it had carried 500,000 passengers since its inception,[8] and in November 2013, it carried its millionth passenger.[9]

The temporary federal funding for the service was used up by 2005. However, regional passenger rail advocates came out in force on April 11, 2005, for a state capitol rally sponsored by PassengerRailOk.org. Keynote speaker, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett addressed the crowd along with the mayors of Perry, Guthrie, and Purcell, Oklahoma, encouraging the state fund the service and to expand the train into Kansas.[10] State lawmakers kept the Heartland Flyer in operation by passing House Bill 1078 that provided an annual $2 million subsidy to continue the service.[11]

In April 2016, Amtrak began Thruway bus service between the Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma City and the Southwest Chief in Newton, Kansas, with one stop in Wichita. The schedule runs mostly overnight since the Southwest Chief arrives in Newton in the early morning. Initial service was operated under contract by Village Tours of Wichita.[12][13]

Expansion proposals

Extension to Kansas

Since its inception, numerous proposal have been made to extend the Heartland Flyer northward from Oklahoma City to Kansas along the original route of the Lone Star, discontinued in 1979. The extended line would serve Wichita Union Station before connecting with the Southwest Chief in Newton, Kansas. Some proposals would further extend the Heartland Flyer from Newton to Kansas City along the route of the Southwest Chief.

A 2009 study conducted by Amtrak proposed four options for the extension. One would extend the current round trip to Newton as a night train. Two would further extend the night train to Kansas City. Three would instead add a new day train to Kansas City from Fort Worth. Four would add the day train but only between Kansas City and Oklahoma City. Through car service with the Southwest Chief was also stated as a possibility.[14] By September 2010, only the first and third options were said to remain under consideration.[15]

In late 2011, the Kansas Department of Transportation released the results of a study into new service south to Fort Worth, presenting the options of a night train from Texas to Newton, with start-up costs of $87.5 million and an annual subsidy of $4.4 million, or a day train to Kansas City, with start-up costs of $245.5 million and an annual subsidy of $10 million.[16] On June 9, 2017, Amtrak ran an inspection train between Oklahoma City and Kansas City in order to explore the Heartland Flyer extension to Newton.[17]

In June 2021, Amtrak included the extension to Newton in its 15-year expansion vision. The plan also includes two additional round trips between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.[18] In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which could fund the plan.[19][4] The extension was endorsed by the Oklahoma City Council in April 2022,[20] and by Dodge City in October 2022.[21] The Oklahoma and Kansas governors are on board to provide some state funding.[22]

In June 2023, Oklahoma and Kansas state officials began seeking federal approval and funding to extend the Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City to Newton.[23]

Other proposals

During the 1990s, service to San Antonio, Texas, via Austin in conjunction with a reroute of the Texas Eagle west from Fort Worth to El Paso, Texas via Sierra Blanca was considered. This would have created another connection with the Sunset Limited.[24]

In 2020, Amtrak reported it was working to add a new stop in Thackerville, Oklahoma, with access to the WinStar World Casino operated by the Chickasaw Nation.[17]

Rolling stock

Heartland Flyer at Ardmore, Oklahoma, 2007

The Heartland Flyer uses equipment from Amtrak's national fleet, typically two General Electric Genesis locomotives and two or three Superliner railcars. One of the Superliner cars is a snack coach with seating on the upper level of the car, and a small Café area on the lower level.

Previously, the Heartland Flyer used a combination of Hi-Level and Superliner railcars before converting to all Superliners. For many years, the train was powered by only one locomotive, and a Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU) on the end of the train opposite the locomotive made the train bi-directional. In 2009, the NPCU was replaced with a standard Genesis P42DC, giving the train locomotive power on both ends. The train returned to having an NPCU in 2015 before an accident in 2017 caused it to alternate between having power on both ends and having the NPCU.[25] It has since switched back to having locomotive power on both ends.

From April 2010 to April 2011, Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation carried out a research project to run the train on a biodiesel blend known as B20 (20% pure biofuel and 80% diesel).[26][27]

From its inception in 1999, the train has added additional cars to accommodate fans heading to Dallas, Texas to see the Red River Rivalry. The first train had one additional coach while subsequent trains have had as many as three additional cars. A "Sightseer" lounge is also added. The train was dubbed the "Big Game Train" and it runs every year with the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28][5]

Accidents

On October 15, 2021, the northbound Heartland Flyer struck a car hauler north of Thackerville, Oklahoma. The train partially derailed and four passengers were injured.

In December 2021 Amtrak's Heartland Flyer Collided with a Vehicle in Ardmore OK, No One was Injured in the Accident

On October 1st 2022 The train collided with a chive on the tracks a few miles south of Gainesville Texas near the Valley View exit off Interstate 35 in Valley View Texas which Paraells the BNSF Red Rock Subdivision South of Gainesville, Later on Amtrak confirmed a person in the vehicle was found dead and the train, with 130 passengers and crew, sat still for more than three hours.


References

  1. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2024 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Amtrak Timetable Results". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Information Release 07-016" (PDF) (Press release). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Francis-Smith, Janice (March 4, 2022). "Transportation plan has eyes on Oklahoma's future". The Journal Record. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Heartland Flyer history
  6. ^ Gordon Dickson (June 18, 2019). "Amtrak's Heartland Flyer runs from Fort Worth to OKC. How did the train get its name?". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  7. ^ Cooper, Aaron (June 14, 2000). "Amtrak, ODOT celebrate 1-year anniversary of Heartland Flyer". Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  8. ^ "Ridership up on Heartland Flyer". Associated Press. November 9, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  9. ^ "Amtrak recognizes OSU student as millionth passenger on Heartland Flyer". The Oklahoman. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  10. ^ Talley, Tim (April 11, 2005). "Rail passengers rally for Heartland Flyer". Associated Press.
  11. ^ Price, Marie (May 25, 2005). "Beefed-up state agency budgets sent to governor". Tulsa World. p. A10.
  12. ^ Daniel, McCoy (April 18, 2016). "To train by bus: Amtrak announces thruway bus connections for Wichita". Wichita Business Journal. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Wichita Returns to the Amtrak Map". Amtrak Media. April 18, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Bob Johnston (August 2010). "Kansas weighs new train choices". Trains. Kalmbach Publishing.
  15. ^ Vantuono, William (September 3, 2010). "Kansas weighs two Amtrak route options". Railway Age. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  16. ^ "Kansas DOT releases passenger-rail service development plan". Progressive Railroading. December 5, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Amtrak Fact Sheet Fiscal Year 2019 State of Oklahoma" (PDF). amtrak.com. Amtrak. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "Heartland Flyer Extension". storymaps.arcgis.com. Amtrak Connect Us. September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  19. ^ Loging, Shawn (November 8, 2021). "Infrastructure bill elevates Amtrak discussion in Wichita". kwch.com. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  20. ^ McNutt, Kathryn (April 14, 2022). "OKC endorses expanded Amtrak rail service". The Journal Record. Retrieved May 19, 2022."Amtrak Train Collides With Semi Car Hauler in Oklahoma". youtube.com. Storyful. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "Regulations.gov". www.regulations.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  22. ^ "Stitt pitches state projects to U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg". Tulsa World, April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "Tulsa not included in proposed OKC-to-Kansas passenger rail expansion". Carmen Forman, Tulsa World, June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  24. ^ "Fort Worth-Los Angeles Proposed Schedule Change Updated October 27, 1999". Texas Association of Rail Passengers. October 27, 1999. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  25. ^ "Amtrak train hits van in Davis; one dead". www.kten.com. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "Heartland Flyer". Amtrak History & Archives. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  27. ^ "Amtrak's Beef-Powered Train". Time. November 11, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  28. ^ "All Aboard for the Big Game: Amtrak Football Specials — Amtrak: History of America's Railroad". history.amtrak.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.

Notes

  1. ^ Amtrak's Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1 of the prior year to September 30 of the named year.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heartland Flyer.
KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Heartland Flyer
KML is from Wikidata
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heartland_Flyer&oldid=1161748857"