If this has been posted already, then I do apologize...I ran across this on NewsOK a couple of days ago, and thought it was an interesting idea. I moved from KC about 3 years back, and love the idea of being able to get from OKC to KC to see family and friends on the Heartland Flyer.

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Fans seek train service northward

By Jennifer Jackson
Staff Writer

NORMAN — A group of Heartland Flyer enthusiasts wants community members to send letters to the governor requesting state funding for an expansion of train services.

PassengerRailOK.org, an organization dedicated to the expansion of passenger rails in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, is working to convince legislators to extend the Heartland Flyer service north through Wichita, Kan., to Kansas City, Mo. The train makes one round-trip a day between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. It leaves Oklahoma City in the morning and returns in the evening.

The group would like to see 1,000 letters sent to Gov. Brad Henry, group member Evan Stair said.

Nelson Dent wants train services to be extended north of Norman because he is legally blind and can't drive.

"We're trying to get Oklahoma on board to get it to go north,” Dent said. "I could use it every day. It would allow me to get around.”

Dent said it takes him more than two hours to get to Oklahoma City on a bus. By train he could travel to Oklahoma City in 17 minutes, he said.

Stair said it would cost the state about $5.6 million annually for expanded Heartland Flyer service.

John Dougherty, assistant division manager for rail programs for the state transportation department, said he would like to see a northbound expansion in the future but funding is unavailable.

"I would like to be able to go to Kansas City and Tulsa,” Dougherty said.

For more information about the letter campaign go to www.Passenger RailOK.com.


....they really meant PASSENGER RAIL OKLAHOMA . Oh how I LOVE The Oklahoman!