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2008 Archives: 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2001

2008

OCTOBER

*United Transportation Union Rail Safety Bill Headed to White House (10/05/2008)

APRIL

*The Daily Oklahoman Getting aboard plans to expand services (4/20/08)

*The Daily Oklahoman Q&A with Evan Stair (4/10/08)

*KTEN: Passenger Rail System Running Through Ardmore Could Be Expanding (4/3/08)

*Wichita Eagle Wichita City Council supports passenger train service (4/02/08)

*Northern Flyer Alliance Press Release (4/02/08)

*Topeka Capital Journal County Asking Amtrak to Expand Kansas Service (4/01/08)

MARCH

*The Daily Oklahoman Flyer Service May Expand to Kansas (3/31/08)

*Topeka Capital Journal Rail Travel - Intriguing Option (3/29/08)

*Daily Ardmoreite Heartland Flyer May Reach New Destinations (3/24/08)

*Progressive Railroading Amtrak to Study Kansas City to Oklahoma City Service (3/24/08)

*Topeka Capital Journal Amtrak May Adjust Routes (3/24/08) THE ERASER STORY

*Northern Flyer Alliance Press Release (3/21/08)

*Norman Transcript Kansas to mull Amtrak rail connection to OKC (3/21/08)

*Kansas City Star Kansas Cities Support Amtrak Routes to Dallas Area (3/21/08)

*Northern Flyer Alliance Amtrak-KDOT Heartland Flyer Expansion Study (3/21/08)

*Wichita Eagle State Agrees to Study Cost of Passenger Rail Service (03/21/08)

*KAKE-TV Wichita (3/20/08) - Includes VIDEO

*AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE (3/20/08)

FEBRUARY

*Lawrence Journal-World: Amtrak plan would expand service to south (2/15/08) - VIDEO

*Ark City Traveler: Local train service gains steam (1/11/08)

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UNITED TRANSPORTATION UNION UTU.org (10/01/08)

RAIL SAFETY BILL HEADED TO WHITE HOUSE

(PASSENGER RAIL INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT ACT PASSES! ! !)

WASHINGTON -- The Senate has passed, by a 74-24 vote, the Rail Safety
Improvement Act of 2008, and its companion, the Passenger Rail Investment
and Improvement Act of 2008.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) voted "yes." Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voted "no
" The vote took place the evening of Oct. 1.

As the House previously voted in favor of the legislation, the two bills,
packaged together, now move to the White House, where President Bush is
expected to sign the measure into law.

This is the most comprehensive rail safety bill in more than 30 years.

It provides for certification of conductors, along with a minimum training
requirement.

Additionally, it prohibits carriers from interfering with medical treatment
of injured employees, mandates installation of positive train control, and
offers railroads incentives to install electronically controlled pneumatic
(ECP) brakes and switch position indicators.

Significantly, the safety bill caps limbo time and requires at least two
days off following each six-day work week. But a provision permits general
chairpersons to negotiate with carriers a better balance between time off
and earnings, while preserving guaranteed time off.

Also of signficance, the legislative history of the bill supports two sets
of eyes and ears in the locomotive cab, notwithstanding the installation of
PTC.

The Amtrak portion of the bill contains a blueprint to protect Amtrak and
expand intercity rail passenger service. It supports a five-year cumulative
$13.1 billion federal subsidy to Amtrak, provides seed money for the
development of additional high-speed rail corridors, and permits the Surface
Transportation Board to fine host freight railroads that delay Amtrak trains

Following are major provisions of the rail safety bill:

Conductor certification: Within 18 months of the bill’s becoming law, the
FRA must establish a program to certify conductors, including minimum
training standards.

Positive Train Control: Requires installation of positive train control by
Dec. 31, 2015, on all main-line track where intercity passenger and commuter
railroads operate, and where toxic-by-inhalation hazmat is transported. Also
grants are provided to assist railroads in implementing ECP brakes and
switch-position indicators.

Hours-of-Service: Requires at least 10 consecutive uninterrupted hours off
duty following 12 hours on duty. (There is a three-year exception for
passenger train employees, during which time their hours of service
limitations will be studied by the FRA.)

No freight railroad employee covered by the hours-of-service law may be
called to work unless they have had at least 10 uninterrupted hours off
during the prior 24-hour period. And following each six days of work, a
covered employee must be given 48 hours of uninterrupted time-off at their
home terminal.

If the carrier requires that employee to work a 7th day -- even if it is to
return them to their home terminal -- then the uninterrupted time-off at the
home terminal must be at least 72 hours.

As to limbo time, no employee covered by the hours-of-service law may be
placed in limbo time after they have been on duty, waited for deadhead
transportation or been in any other mandatory service for more than a total
of 276 hours in any month.

And total limbo time per month is restricted to no more than 40 hours --
reduced to 30 hours on the first anniversary of the bill’s becoming law.

The bill permits general chairpersons to sit down with carrier labor
relations officers and negotiate a better balance between time off and
earnings, while preserving guaranteed time off.

Locomotive Cab Safety: Requires the FRA study the safety impact of the use
of train crews using personal electronic devices. (The UTU has learned that
the FRA already is considering issuing an emergency order prohibiting train
crews from using personal cell phones, Blackberries, iPods and other
electronic devices, except for company business -- and then only when
two-crewpersons are in the cab.)

Medical Attention: Prohibits railroads from denying, delaying, or
interfering with the medical or first aid treatment of injured workers, and
from disciplining those workers that request treatment. Also requires
railroads to arrange for immediate transport of injured workers to the
nearest appropriate hospital.

Inspector Staffing: Increases the number of federal rail safety inspectors
and supporting staff by 200.

Following is a summary of the Amtrak provisions:

State Corridors: Federal grants are provided to states to develop innovative
new services, increase capacity on heavily used rail lines, and attract new
riders.

High-Speed Rail Corridors: Grants are provided to construct 11
to-be-determined high-speed rail corridors.

On-Time Performance: DOT and the Surface Transportation Board (STB) must
investigate Amtrak delays and determine if they are the fault of the host
railroad. If so, host rail carrier may be ordered to pay Amtrak monetary
damages.

Click here to read the 315-page bill, including the rail safety and Amtrak
provisions. This may take time to open due to its length; and probably will
not open if you are using dial-up Internet service.

The Daily Oklahoman Getting aboard plans to expand services (4/20/08)

By Ja’Rena Lunsford
Business Writer

It's been 77 years since passengers first began lining up at Oklahoma City's Union Station to jump aboard a Rock Island or Frisco passenger train.

Although the 55,000 square foot station, complete with its high ceilings and marble trim, still stands just south of downtown, the station's days of serving passengers have ended.

But passenger rail service in Oklahoma does not have to be a thing of the past, and some state leaders and train enthusiasts are hoping that it never is.

"I think the important thing for Oklahomans to remember is railways and rail access created modern Oklahoma,” said Tom Elmore, executive director of the North American Transportation Institute, a Moore-based nonprofit that studies the nation's transportation system. "The passenger service of the commercial railroad was a source of pride.”

Connecting cities

Oklahoma got some of that pride back June 15, 1999, when the Heartland Flyer started service, ending a 20-year absence of passenger train service from Oklahoma and north Texas. The first year, 71,000 passengers rode the Heartland Flyer.

Last year, the state Transportation Department asked Amtrak, which operates the Heartland Flyer, to do a study looking at expanding the train's service to Tulsa.

"It would be nice to tie the two largest cities together,” said John Dougherty, assistant division manager of rail programs for the state Transportation Department.

"We think that's just a natural fit,” he said.

Dougherty said the study looks at how much the expansion would cost, ridership and what startup costs would be needed. He said the Transportation Department expects to have the results of the study within weeks.

The possibility of expanding the Heartland Flyer north of Tulsa is also on the horizon.

The Kansas Transportation Department has asked Amtrak to study what's required to provide passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Newton, Kan. The hope is to connect the Heartland Flyer to Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs daily from Chicago to Los Angeles.

"We've have a good train whose ridership is increasing and we have a dead end in Oklahoma City,” Dougherty said. "I think the leadership of both states sees the benefit of working together.”

RELATED INFORMATION

What's next?

The Heartland Flyer is not Oklahoma's only future in rail travel. Doug Rex, transportation planning director for the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, said though there have not been many concrete decisions made on the subject of the metro area's future with a rail system, the dialogue — both private and public — has not stopped.

"Ten years ago, we weren't talking about commuter rail in this city,” Rex said. "Now, when I go to civic events, normally one of the first questions asked is about light rail.

"We're starting to think differently,” he said.

Rex said though the cost of a light rail system didn't seem viable for the city, a downtown circulator — what Rex called a fixed-rail modern street car — may be plausible.

"A consultant has been selected to do the study,” Rex said. He said the study, which will be finished in 2009, will look at the cost and possible route of such a system.

John Dougherty, assistant division manager of rail programs for the state Transportation Department, said though additional and expanded rail service won't happen tomorrow, planning for the future is a positive step.

"I think we all foresee the future of the U.S., and we think that it needs to be rail,” he said.

The Daily Oklahoman Q&A with Evan Stair (4/10/08)

Q: The Kansas Department of Transportation recently asked Amtrak to do a study on what it would take to provide passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Newton, Kan. What other steps are being taken in an effort to take the Heartland Flyer northbound?

A: Various public and civic meetings are being held to inform the public and local governments of Northern Flyer Alliance Passenger Rail Expansion Initiative progress. The Northern Flyer Alliance is a conglomerate of legislative, civic and community organizations and persons unifying with the expressed goal of improving passenger rail transportation between Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

We are organizing a massive public outreach to educate local governments and civic organizations about passenger rail benefits, through the Northern Flyer Alliance, and grass roots organizations, PassengerRailOK.org and PassengerRailKS.org. We desire "trickle-up” leadership. We are asking communities to contact their state legislators, Gov. (Brad) Henry and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to let them know they need this form of transportation.

Q: Why is expanding the Heartland Flyer important?

A: Expanding the Heartland Flyer is important for economic development, to reduce world oil demand and to keep Oklahoma City from violating EPA clean air standards. It is also a quality of life issue as an optional form of transportation. Oklahoma stands to garner new federal matching funds for passenger rail development.

The Passenger Rail Investment and Reform Act currently provides a 50-50 match for capital improvement funds as provided by the states. Another bill, SB 294, The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, has passed the U.S. Senate and after passage in the House, will provide an 80-20 federal match. SB 294 is a bipartisan bill authored by Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

Q: What steps is the state of Oklahoma taking to further the goal of expanding the train service?

A: Lt. Gov. Jari Askins has voiced support and has contacted Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson stating an interest to assist. Oklahoma interest has been limited because the initiative reached the Legislature too late in the 2008 session for effective legislation to be heard. However, several state legislators are interested in passenger rail expansion.

Efforts will begin again in earnest upon the conclusion of this session to drum up additional support for expansion. It is a monumental task to educate the Legislature about passenger rail benefits.

Q: How much would this endeavor cost and how would it be paid for?

A: In perspective passenger rail is extremely inexpensive and taxpayer friendly. A six mile project to widen Interstate 35 in the Norman area will cost taxpayers approximately $9 million per lane mile. The entire widening project, just one lane in each direction, is expected to cost in the range of $108 million. Contrast passenger rail at $21,000 per mile annually and a $2.9 million upgrade between Oklahoma City and the Kansas line.

The final costs would be about $5.3 million annually with a startup cost in the range of $4 million to $5 million. This would include the track upgrades and shared restoration of mothballed and damaged Amtrak equipment. Funding could come from a budget request by Gov. Henry to the Legislature or from legislative action tapping other state revenues.

Q: When could passengers expect to have expanded train service?

A: The legislative process is slow. Amtrak has stated that they will complete the Kansas Department of Transportation feasibility study in late 2008 or early 2009. Various operational structures are being considered. Amtrak provides 14 states with supplemental passenger rail service as funded by the states. These include California, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, and other Northeast states in the nation. The target date for such an expansion would be in the late 2010 time frame.

Staff Writer Ja'Rena Lunsford

KTEN: Passenger Rail System Running Through Ardmore Could Be Expanding (4/3/08)

Updated: April 3, 2008 06:34 PM CDT

A passenger rail system which runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, and runs through Ardmore's Main Street will soon expand connecting Kansas City to Fort Worth. Local business owners believe the change could be profitable. KTEN's Hailee Holliday reports.

The Wichita City Council recently voted unanimously to endorse the Amtrak Heartland Flyer route.

City leaders say the expansion should bring more people to the downtown Ardmore area to either board the Amtrak or have a layover.

While downtown, these passengers either shop at local stores or dine at downtown restaurants.

Local business owner, Everett Aycos, says, "I think it would be a real good thing. You have more people coming in from out of town and see sites that they don't normally see and I think it's a real good thing. I would love to ride the train down to Fort Worth myself and spend the day down there."

Business owner, Kristy Farris, says, "I think it's a really good thing. Anything Ardmore can do to get more traffic and more people to shop locally versus going out of town is always a great thing.'

Not only would the expansion bring additional traveler to the Ardmore area, it would also give local residents another option of transportation without paying the high prices of gas.

When the actual expansion will take place is not known at this time.

Hailee Holliday, KTEN News

Wichita Eagle Wichita City Council supports passenger train service (4/02/08)

Wichita City Council supports passenger train service

BY BRENT D. WISTROM

The Wichita Eagle

It's still just an idea, but a proposal to extend passenger rail service through Wichita is gaining momentum.

This morning, Wichita City Council members unanimously endorsed the idea of expanding Amtrak's service, giving Wichitans train service between Fort Worth and Kansas City with 15 stops in between, including one near Old Town.

Passengers could jump onto other routes heading to Los Angeles and Chicago along the way.

Wichita has not had passenger rail service since 1979, according to the city. But increasing fuel costs and environmental concerns have renewed interest in train transportation.

The Northern Flyer Alliance is advocating the new push for train service.

Its plan would extend the Heartland Flyer, which runs from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, through Edmond, Guthrie, Perry and Ponca City in Oklahoma, and then through Arkansas City, Wichita and Newton in Kansas to merge with the existing route of Amtrak's Southwest Chief along a rail segment from Newton to Kansas City.

According to the city, the proposed route expansion has thus far received support in the form of local resolutions or letters from Ponca City, Newton, Emporia, Strong City, Sedgwick, Arkansas City, Mulvane, Lawrence, Peabody, Sumner County and Winfield.

It's not clear yet how much train rides would cost on an extended Amtrak line. But, as an example, Amtrak's web site quoted $29 for an April 4 ride from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City. That train would depart Fort Worth at 6:25 p.m. and get to Oklahoma City at 10:39 p.m.

Northern Flyer Alliance Press Release (4/02/08)

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE NORTHERN FLYER ALLIANCE
APRIL 2, 2008

Wichita, Kansas

The Wichita City Council voted unanimously yesterday to endorse Amtrak Heartland Flyer route expansion between Kansas City and Fort Worth. Northern Flyer Alliance Executive Director Autumn Heithaus was in attendance for the vote. Wichita is the most populous city to date to endorse the expansion. Wichita has not had Amtrak passenger rail service since the Chicago to Houston Lone Star was discontinued in 1979. Economic Development possibilities, possible federal matching funding, increasing world oil demand, and EPA Clean Air Standards are driving the effort.

"We believe that it is just a matter of time before this route is restored," according to Evan Stair, Oklahoma Director of the Northern Flyer Alliance, "The benefits far outweigh the subsidy. Business districts such as Wichita's Old Town, Oklahoma City's Bricktown, and Fort Worth's Sundance Square will receive an economic boost from such investment. An ODOT Carter Burgess Economic Impact Statement showed a $23 million economic stimulus between the time of the trains introduction 1999 and 2005. This is just the tip of the iceberg. At the same time Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas travelers will be afforded with an optional form of transportation. This is vitally important as oil prices rise well over $100 a barrel."

Mark Corriston, Northern Flyer Alliance Kansas City Director, commenting on another pending resolution from the Topeka City Council offered the following: "Topeka's resolution, as one of many from across the state, adds a great measure of legitimacy and evidence of public and civic interest. This, more than anything, is what is making the (expansion) initiative a measure that is moving forward towards legislative action."

For More Information Contact:
Evan Stair
Oklahoma Director
Northern Flyer Alliance
EvanStair@PassengerRailOk.org

For Additional Information from the Wichita Eagle:
http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/359131.html

Topeka Capital Journal County Asking Amtrak to Expand Kansas Service (4/01/08)

By Tim Hrenchir

The Capital-Journal

Published Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Shawnee County commissioners sought Monday to put this community on track to getting more railroad service.

Commissioners Shelly Buhler, Vic Miller and Ted Ensley voted 3-0 to pass a joint city-county resolution asking Amtrak to make Topeka a stopping point for service between Oklahoma City and Kansas City, Mo. The Topeka City Council is expected next month to consider the measure, which is co-sponsored by Buhler, Miller, Ensley and council members Sylvia Ortiz, John Alcala and Jack Woelfel.

The proposal expresses support for the expansion of Amtrak service from Oklahoma City through Arkansas City to Kansas City, Mo., with a stop in Topeka, and for the efforts of a group called the Northern Flyer Alliance to bring about that move.

The measure also asks Amtrak to provide a full line of customer service, including baggage handling, at its station at S.E. 5th and Holliday.

The only Amtrak train currently making stops in Kansas is the Southwest Chief, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles with stops in Kansas at Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City.

Amtrak has been in talks with the Kansas Department of Transportation about potential state subsidies for it to establish a line between Kansas City, Mo., and Oklahoma City. About 10 cities have gotten behind the project, including Lawrence and Emporia.

KDOT has announced it would spend $150,000 to $200,000 to study the plan, which would connect Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer routes through a new link between Newton and Oklahoma City. The Heartland Flyer operates daily between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

A connecting train between Newton and Oklahoma City would give northeast Kansans railroad access to Fort Worth and on to San Antonio, where connections may be made with trains traveling along the southern border to both coasts.

Commissioners on Tuesday also:

• Voted 2-1, with Ensley dissenting, to approve county zoning rules that will allow landowners to build larger "accessory buildings" on property in unincorporated areas. Ensley voted against the measure, saying he opposes the size limitations.

• Voted 3-0 to spend up to $62,678 to replace the public address system in the Expocentre's Exhibition Hall. Commissioners also voted to spend up to $6,627 to make three emergency repairs at the Expocentre.

• Learned county refuse department employees David Nelson and Chris Ross won first and second places, respectively, in separate competitions Saturday in a refuse truck rodeo at Olathe put on by the Sunflower chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at (7685) 295-1184 or tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com.

The Daily Oklahoman Flyer Service May Expand to Kansas (3/31/08)

By Ja’Rena Lunsford
Business Writer

When the Heartland Flyer launched in 1999, John Dougherty said that was the just the beginning of passenger rail service in Oklahoma.

"Of course we'd like to move on to phase one and two,” said Dougherty, assistant division manager of rail programs for the state Transportation Department.

That may happen in the near future, taking the Heartland Flyer north of Oklahoma City and into neighboring Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Transportation recently asked Amtrak to do a study on what it would take to provide passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Newton, Kan. The hope is to connect the Heartland Flyer to Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs daily from Chicago to Los Angeles.

"We have a good train whose ridership is increasing and we have a dead end in Oklahoma City,” Dougherty said. "I think the leadership of both states sees the benefit of working together.”

The study, which will cost the Kansas Transportation Department between $150,000 and $200,000, also will look at the possibility of extending the Heartland Flyer to Kansas City. Amtrak expects to begin the study this summer and complete it next year.

"We have carried out several studies in the Midwest and elsewhere in the last few years,” Alex Kummant, Amtrak president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "State-supported routes are the fastest growing part of our business.”

The Heartland Flyer receives $2 million a year from the Legislature to operate the train, Dougherty said. Oklahoma partners with Texas to split the cost of the train service.

"I think that's something that is a reasonable option for Kansas and Oklahoma; split the cost,” Dougherty said.

He said expanding the Heartland Flyer into Kansas may result in the train needing double the amount it receives from the Legislature.

"It's not going to be a tomorrow thing by any means,” Dougherty said of the expansion. Leaders from both Oklahoma City and Kansas will have to meet to discuss options once the study is complete.

"It's a little bit of a delay, a year seems like a long time away, but it's not that far when you are taking such big steps,” Dougherty said.

Evan Stair, Oklahoma director for the Northern Flyer alliance, an organization that supports alternative transportation, said he would like to see the train running in Kansas by 2010.

For riders like Norman resident Jack Earl, who gave up his car a year ago and gets where he needs to go via bicycle, public transportation and the train, expanding the Heartland Flyer north is a welcome idea.

"I personally think that anything that helps grow the train is a good thing,” Earl said. "I think in time, we are going to see more people ride the train, especially as gas prices increase.”

Earl said being able to ride the train straight north would be convenient.

"When we rode the Flyer over Christmas, we had to go to Forth Worth first before we went north,” he said. "We do that all the time when we fly, but on a train it takes much longer.”

Kansas is not the only northern location officials are hoping to take the Heartland Flyer.

Last year, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation asked Amtrak, which operates the Heartland Flyer, to do a study looking at expanding the train's service to Tulsa.

"It would be nice to tie the two largest cities together,” Dougherty said. "We think that's just a natural fit.”

Dougherty said the study looks at how much the expansion would cost, ridership and what startup costs would be needed. The transportation department expects to have the results of the study within weeks, he said.

Dougherty said railroad expansion isn't something that can happen overnight but planning for the future is a positive step forward.

"I think we all foresee the future of the U.S. and we think that it needs to be rail,” he said.

Topeka Capital Journal Rail Travel - Intriguing Option (3/29/08)

Rail travel — Intriguing option

The prospect of extending Amtrak service through Dallas and beyond is worth exploring

The Capital-Journal Editorial Board

Published Saturday, March 29, 2008

When it comes to travel convenience, Topekans are fortunate.

An international airport sits about 75 miles away on interstate highways, including a six-lane stretch of Kansas Turnpike.

Generally, there's no sweating it out in slow-moving traffic on the way to or from the airport.

Travelers in some areas of the country don't have it nearly so good. Long trips on congested highways, or regional flights to the nearest hub, are a fact of life for many.

Now comes a plan that could add to Topeka's convenient travel options.

The proposal would establish daily Amtrak service from Kansas City to Dallas on a route that would go through Topeka. Amtrak has proposed the project as one of several state-subsidized routes it is discussing in partnership with state government officials.

About 10 cities have gotten behind the project, including Lawrence and Emporia. The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced it would spend $150,000 to $200,000 to study the plan, which involves connecting Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer routes through a new link between Newton and Oklahoma City.

The Southwest Chief runs between Chicago and Los Angeles with stops along a line from Kansas City through Garden City and west across the state line.

The Heartland Flyer operates daily between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

A new link would give Topeka residents easy access to Dallas and even on to San Antonio, where connections may be made for trains traveling along the southern border to both coasts.

Proponents of the route say Topeka also might benefit from having a daily commuter train coming each day from Kansas City.

It's definitely an intriguing prospect, but it will need quite a bit more study before Topeka should jump aboard.

Among the key feasibility issues:

• Cost. A group of proponents, the Northern Flyer Alliance, estimates it will cost $12.7 million a year for operations and $6.5 million for track upgrades. Those costs, if determined to be accurate, will have to be weighed against ridership estimates and potential economic development for communities along the routes.

• Scheduling. Amtrak's current service to Topeka makes stops at 1:09 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., times when many travelers would prefer to be asleep.

• Delays. Amtrak shares railways with freight trains, which often causes delays.

Would Topekans embrace expanded train service? Some people certainly swear by rail travel, pointing out that trains offer roomy seating, a relaxed pace and a chance to see the scenery without being forced to pay attention to the highway.

Trains also are more fuel efficient than other modes of travel.

On the other hand, fast and fairly inexpensive travel options are readily available to Topekans.

Time will tell whether the project would be good for Topeka. But it's worth looking into.

Daily Ardmoreite Heartland Flyer May Reach New Destinations (3/24/08)

By Sheila J. Robinson

Staff Writer

Web posted March 25, 2008

Passengers who board Amtrak's Heartland Flyer passenger train in Ardmore may find more travel options in the future. The train currently makes daily round trips from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, Texas.

Ron Kaufman with the Kansas Department of Transportation reported KDOT has officially requested that Amtrak complete a $150,000 to $200,000 passenger rail expansion study. Part of the study would be based upon Heartland Flyer route expansion from Oklahoma City to Kansas City, Kan., through Wichita, Kan.

Linking the Heartland Flyer passenger train with other Amtrak routes once daily between Chicago and Los Angeles and twice daily between Kansas City and St. Louis in Wichita and Kansas City, is the goal of the Northern Flyer Alliance. The alliance seeks to stimulate new regional economic development opportunities using Amtrak passenger rail service as a backbone.

An Oklahoma Department of Transportation-commissioned 2005 study indicated a six-year, $23 million economic benefit for communities served by the Heartland Flyer. Northern Flyer Alliance estimates annual route subsidy would be $13 million annually shared between Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Oklahoma pays $2.2 million annually to Amtrak for its portion of the Heartland Flyer route.

"It has always been the goal to expand the Heartland Flyer, so we are very excited about this study," said Karen Adams, Heartland Flyer Coalition chair. "Amtrak is also conducting a study regarding Tulsa. I would like to add that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Texas DOT equally share in the cost of the Heartland Flyer. Should the study results be favorable, we hope that the states involved will be willing to commit to the extension."

Several options were presented at a recent Heartland Flyer expansion stakeholders meeting in Topeka, Kan., on March 14 hosted by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Study session results will be presented to Amtrak this spring or early summer defining study scope. Amtrak anticipates the study will be complete late this year or early in 2009.

Sheila J. Robinson, 221-6536

sheila.robinson@ardmoreite.com

Progressive Railroading Amtrak to Study Kansas City to Oklahoma City Service (3/24/08)

Amtrak soon will conduct a study to determine the feasibility of providing state-sponsored service between Kansas City, Mo., and Oklahoma City, via Newton, Kan.
Currently, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief provides service between Kansas City and Newton, and the Heartland Flyer operates daily between Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City. To be funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation, the study will analyze a connection between the Southwest Chief and an extended Heartland Flyer at Newton, a further extension of the Heartland Flyer to Kansas City, or another new service. The route likely would include service to Wichita, which has not been served by Amtrak since the railroad discontinued Lone Star service in 1979. Amtrak will examine costs, schedules, stations, rail-car and locomotive availability, and potential travel delays due to freight traffic on the lines. The railroad expects to begin the study in mid- to late summer and complete it by third-quarter 2009.

Topeka Capital Journal Amtrak May Adjust Routes (3/24/08)

By Mike Hall

The Capital-Journal

Published Monday, March 24, 2008

A map of Amtrak passenger train routes across the United States shows a noticeable gap.

It looks like someone took an eraser and wiped out a line that should run from Newton, Kan., to Oklahoma City.

That could be corrected if discussions between Amtrak and Kansas Department of Transportation officials are successful. KDOT has asked Amtrak for information on what would be needed to fill in that gap.

In addition to the routes funded at the national level, Amtrak is in partnership with many states for state-subsidized routes. A good example is the route supported by the state of Missouri between Kansas City and St. Louis.

The only Amtrak service in Kansas is the Southwest Chief that runs between Chicago and Los Angeles, with stops in Kansas in Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City.

If a connecting train could be operated between Newton and Oklahoma City, northeast Kansans would have easy access to Wichita, Fort Worth and on to San Antonio, where connections may be made with trains traveling along the southern border to both coasts.

The Heartland Flyer is the train that operates daily between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and is supported by Oklahoma and Texas.

"State-supported routes are the fastest growing part of our business," said Alex Kummant, Amtrak president and chief executive officer.

Deb Miller, KDOT secretary, said a number of issues need to be studied including cost, schedule and the likelihood of travel delays because of freight traffic on the line. KDOT will fund a study at a cost of $150,000 and $200,000. Amtrak expects to begin the study in mid- to late summer and complete it by the third quarter of 2009.

Amtrak said it will need to examine potential schedules, existing Amtrak stations and rail car and locomotive availability. The study also will consider the need to improve rails to accommodate passenger service and increase capacity for greater freight movement on tracks owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Mike Hall can be reached at (785) 295-1209 or mike.hall@cjonline.com.

NORTHERN FLYER ALLIANCE PRESS RELEASE: Amtrak-KDOT Heartland Flyer Expansion Study (3/21/08)

Passengers using Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer passenger train, operating today between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City could find more travel options in the future. Ron Kaufman with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) reported Thursday that KDOT has officially requested that Amtrak complete a $150,000 to $200,000 passenger rail expansion study. Part of the study would be based upon Heartland Flyer route expansion from Oklahoma City to Kansas City through Wichita.

Linking the present Heartland Flyer passenger train that operates between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City with other Amtrak routes; once daily between Chicago and Los Angeles and twice daily between Kansas City and St. Louis; in Wichita (Newton), Kansas and Kansas City, is the goal of the Northern Flyer Alliance (NFA), a community and civic leadership organization whose membership spans the existing and potential Fort Worth to Kansas City Amtrak corridor. The Alliance seeks to simulate new regional economic development opportunities using Amtrak passenger rail service as a backbone. An ODOT commissioned 2005 study indicated a 6 year, $23 million economic benefit for communities served by the Heartland Flyer. NFA estimates show that annual route subsidy would be just $13 million annually shared between Texas – Oklahoma – and Kansas. Oklahoma pays $2.2 million annually to Amtrak for their portion of the Heartland Flyer route.

Several operational options were presented at a recent Heartland Flyer Expansion Stakeholders Meeting in Topeka on March 14, 2008, hosted by KDOT. Amtrak Government Affairs Officials, Joe Kyle, Oklahoma Department of Transportation Rail Programs Division Manager, and Northern Flyer Alliance representatives from potential on-route communities were in attendance. Study session results will be presented to Amtrak this Spring or early summer defining study scope. Amtrak anticipates that the study will be complete late this year or early in 2009.

Initial study scope included the possibility of new Amtrak stops in Edmond, Guthrie, Perry, Ponca City, Arkansas City, Winfield, Mulvane, Wichita, Newton, Strong City, Emporia, Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City. Time of operation, equipment, and operational structure were discussed in the March 14^th meeting.

Contact Evan Stair, Oklahoma Northern Flyer Alliance Director for more information:, EvanStair@PassengerRailOk.org

Norman Transcript Kansas to mull Amtrak rail connection to OKC (3/21/08)

Associated Press
Kansas transportation officials have asked
Amtrak to study the possible expansion of rail service from Kansas City
to Oklahoma City.

The rail line will look at connecting two
existing routes - one that runs from Kansas City to Newton, Kan., the
other from Fort Worth, Texas, to Oklahoma City. The study will consider
scheduling, the availability of locomotives and cars and whether rail
improvements are needed.

The study would be paid for by the Kansas
Department of Transportation at a cost of $150,000 to $200,000. It
would begin this summer and be completed in the fall of 2009.

KDOT said in a news release Thursday that
Arkansas City, Strong City, Lawrence, Winfield and Emporia have
expressed interest in the expansion.

Kansas City Star Kansas Cities Support Amtrak Routes to Dallas Area (3/21/08)

By Brad Cooper and Robert A. Cronkleton

Support is building across Kansas for new train service that would connect Kansas City to the Dallas area. About 10 cities, including Lawrence and Emporia, are getting behind an effort to run daily Amtrak trains to Fort Worth by way of Topeka, Newton, Wichita and Oklahoma City. And now the Kansas Department of Transportation is willing to spend between $150,000 and $200,000 to study the feasibility of the service. The study, which will be done by Amtrak, probably will not start until this summer. It likely will not be completed until the third quarter of 2009, officials said.

The Northern Flyer Alliance, a group of civic leaders, has been lobbying aggressively for the service. It met at Kansas City’s Union Station in December to discuss the proposal. Mark Corriston, the Kansas City director of the Northern Flyer Alliance, said the plan would bolster Kansas City’s role as a transportation hub while giving an economic boost to smaller Kansas cities.

The Amtrak proposal would introduce a new transportation dimension to Kansas, which does not offer subsidized passenger rail service, as neighboring Missouri does. “There’s a lot more interest these days in seeing what can be done for transportation without spending a lot of money on highway improvements,” said KDOT spokesman Ron Kaufman. The study will set up Kansas to have a serious discussion about rail service when state lawmakers embark on a new transportation plan. The current 10-year plan runs out in 2009, and the state will be faced with billions in cost for highway needs alone. Currently, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, which operates daily between Chicago and Los Angeles, serves the route between Kansas City and Newton and beyond, with stops in Lawrence and Topeka during the early morning hours. The Heartland Flyer, supported by the Oklahoma and Texas transportation departments, operates daily between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.

The study will look at a possible connection between the two routes from Newton to Oklahoma City, an extension of the Heartland Flyer to Kansas City or another new service. “Linking the Southwest Chief route to the Heartland Flyer route at Newton and Kansas City seems to be a logical connection within Amtrak’s national system” and is worth further study and analysis, Kansas Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said in a statement. “Before we can make any decisions about expanding passenger rail service, we need to examine a number of issues including cost, schedule and the likelihood of travel delays due to freight traffic on the line,” she said.

The Northern Flyer Alliance wants to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer north from Oklahoma City through Wichita and ultimately east to Kansas City. The route begins in Fort Worth. Corriston said the service could be an economic boon for smaller Kansas cities. He points to tiny Strong City — population 584 — that would like to bring in tourists to see the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. He points to Emporia State University, which would like an easier way to bring in international students from Kansas City. He points to Topeka, which might benefit from a commuter train coming each day from Kansas City. The alliance estimates it could cost $12.7 million a year for operations and $6.5 million in track upgrades. The Kansas Legislature would not only have to approve money for its share of the service, but also would have to remove a constitutional restriction on using state money to supplement Amtrak.

Alex Kummant, Amtrak president and chief executive officer, said in a release that state-supported routes were the fastest growing parts of his business: “We have carried out several studies in the Midwest and elsewhere in the last few years, with Illinois doubling the size of its state rail program since 2006 and California continuing to rack up growth that has contributed to five straight years of record Amtrak ridership.” The state Transportation Department has received letters and petitions supporting the expansion, including from Arkansas City, Strong City, Lawrence, Winfield and Emporia. To reach Brad Cooper, call 816-234-7724 or send e-mail to bcooper@kcstar.com. To reach Robert A. Cronkleton, call 816-234-5994 or send e-mail to bcronkleton@kcstar.com

Press Release: March 21, 2008

For Immediate Release:

www.NorthFlyer.org

Amtrak-KDOT Heartland Flyer Expansion Study

The Northern Flyer Alliance is a conglomerate of civic organizations, community leaders, and government officials dedicated to exploring economic development opportunities, transportation efficiencies, and environmental protection opportunities afforded through passenger rail expansion.

State Agrees to Study Cost of Passenger Rail Service (3/21/08)

BY HURST LAVIANA

The Wichita Eagle

Those who have been working to restore passenger rail service to south-central Kansas are calling it the most significant development to date: a promise from the state to put a price tag on the plan. The Kansas Department of Transportation said Thursday that it has agreed to underwrite an Amtrak study that will determine the cost and feasibility of a proposal that could bring passenger rail service to Wichita for the first time since 1979.

Agency spokesman Ron Kaufman said KDOT asked Amtrak last month to conduct the study, which is expected to cost $150,000 to $200,000 and be finished by the third quarter of 2009. He said he expected that the state will then have the solid numbers it needs before deciding whether it wants to subsidize passenger rail service. "It'll just tell us what the cost will be and what it will take to do it. The state will have to decide from there if it's something worth pursuing," Kaufman said.

Word of the KDOT decision was welcomed by members of the Northern Flyer Alliance, a grassroots organization that has been working to expand passenger rail service between Kansas City and Fort Worth. "It means a lot to our organization and a lot to the citizens of Kansas," said Autumn Heithaus, the group's executive director. "It's a significant step. I think KDOT realizes the importance of this -- perhaps because gas prices have gone through the roof. Why not take a look at it?"

Kaufman said KDOT officials met last week with several groups that have an interest in the issue as they worked to develop a list of questions they hope Amtrak can answer. Those at the meeting agreed that restoring passenger rail service would require the use of Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks and would probably result in northbound and southbound trains passing through Wichita daily during daylight hours. The two Amtrak trains that run through south-central Kansas now stop in Newton during the early morning. Kaufman said he expects the Amtrak study to address such issues as which cities should be included in the system and whether travel delays could be expected because of the volume of freight traffic on the line. Once the study is complete, he said, Kansas lawmakers will have to decide whether the state needs to subsidize the service. There are two key questions," he said. "Do we decide to do it? And if so, where will the funding come from?" Among the cities that have expressed an interest in the study are Arkansas City, Winfield, Newton, Strong City, Emporia and Lawrence.

Heithaus said that after talking to passenger rail advocates in other states, she is convinced that Kansas is ripe for improved Amtrak service. "Kansas tracks look really good," she said. "One other thing that works to our advantage is that we're on flat land. If we had hills and rocks and ditches and everything, it would be a lot more expensive. Since we're on flat land, it's rather cheap." Heithaus said KDOT's decision was a major development in the effort to bring rail service back to the area. "I think the chances are going to be pretty good," she said. "It's going to take some time, and it's going to take a lot of work, but I think it will happen, probably in about two or three years."

Reach Hurst Laviana at 316-268-6499 or hlaviana@wichitaeagle.com.

AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE (3/20/08)

TOPEKA and CHICAGO - The nation’s passenger rail corporation has been asked by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to identify what would be needed to provide state-sponsored rail service between Kansas City, Mo., and Oklahoma City, via Newton, Kan. The route between Kansas City and Newton is served by the Amtrak Southwest Chief (Trains 3 & 4), which stops in the early morning hours in Lawrence and Topeka and operates daily between Chicago and Los Angeles.

The popular Heartland Flyer (Trains 821 & 822) operates daily between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and is supported by the Oklahoma and Texas state transportation departments. The study will include a connection between the Southwest Chief and an extended Heartland Flyer at Newton; a further extension of the Heartland Flyer to Kansas City; or another new service.

“State-supported routes are the fastest growing part of our business,” said Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant. “We have carried out several studies in the Midwest and elsewhere in the last few years, with Illinois doubling the size of its state rail program since 2006 and California continuing to rack-up growth that has contributed to five straight years of record Amtrak ridership.”

“Linking the Southwest Chief route to the Heartland Flyer route at Newton and Kansas City seems to be a logical connection within Amtrak’s national system and is worthy of further study and analysis,” said KDOT Secretary Deb Miller. “Before we can make any decisions about expanding passenger rail service, we need to examine a number of issues including cost, schedule, and the likelihood of travel delays due to freight traffic on the line.”

The cost of the KDOT-funded study is expected to range between $150,000 and $200,000. Amtrak expects to begin the study in mid to late summer and complete it by the third quarter of 2009. The study will consider potential schedules and existing Amtrak stations, as well as railcar and locomotive availability among other start-up costs. The study will also consider the capital needs for rail improvements to accommodate passenger service and increase capacity for greater freight movement on tracks owned by BNSF Railway. KDOT staff met with key legislators and stakeholders last week for their input on the study and will now work with Amtrak to finalize the factors to be evaluated. KDOT has received a number of letters and petitions expressing support for the expansion. The Kansas cities that have officially expressed support for expanded passenger rail service to date include Arkansas City, Strong City, Lawrence, Winfield and Emporia. The Newton and Winfield chambers of commerce also have expressed support for the service. A route between Oklahoma City and Newton would likely include Wichita, which has not been served by Amtrak trains since the 1979 discontinuance of the Lone Star. Emporia has not been served by Amtrak trains since that stop by the Southwest Chief was eliminated in 1997.

Lawrence Journal-World: Amtrak plan would expand service to south (2/15/08) - VIDEO

City commissioners Thursday were asked to jump on board a proposal to significantly expand Amtrak passenger train service in the state. A grassroots organization of Oklahoma and Kansas leaders urged commissioners to pass a resolution encouraging the Kansas Legislature to support plans to establish new, more convenient passenger rail service between Kansas City and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.“We’re not talking about a system that would allow people to just travel through Lawrence,” said Mark Corriston, the Kansas City director of the Northern Flyer Alliance. “We’re talking about a train that would make it convenient for people to travel from Wichita to Lawrence to attend a sports event, or to come to stay overnight in downtown and do some shopping.” And unlike the current Amtrak train that travels through Lawrence, this new Amtrak service would arrive and depart from Lawrence’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe Depot — just a few blocks east of downtown — during daylight hours. The plan calls for one train to depart Kansas City about 7 a.m. and to arrive in Fort Worth about 10 p.m. Another train would leave Fort Worth at 7 a.m. and arrive in Kansas City about 10 p.m.

Proponents of the plan insist it is not just blue sky. “It is not possible to do what we want to do today, but by 2010 I think there will be a lot of elements in place,” Corriston said, referring to rising gasoline prices and a political environment more open to alternative forms of transportation. “I think the environment will be the best we’ve had in 30 or 40 years to do this.”

City commissioners expressed interest in going along for the ride, as long as the project doesn’t require commitment of city funds. “I think rail travel does have a big future,” City Commissioner Boog Highberger said.

The key to its future in Kansas, though, is to get the state to become a funding source. Proponents estimate it will take about $5 million worth of track improvements between Newton and Oklahoma City. The rest of the track is in place and meets passenger rail standards, said Evan Stair, the Oklahoma director of the Northern Flyer Alliance. Much of that cost could be funded through a federal railway grants program that has been approved by the U.S. Senate but is awaiting approval in the House. However, state leaders in Oklahoma and Kansas would need to figure out how to fund approximately $6 million in annual operating costs for the train. Amtrak would run the system but would charge the states to do so. Members of the Northern Flyer Alliance — made up mainly of community and business leaders along the proposed route — have been seeking letters of support from cities throughout eastern and southern Kansas. Thus far, Newton, Strong City, Emporia, Arkansas City and Mulvane all have approved resolutions supporting the project, proponents said.

Mayor Sue Hack said she would plan to put a resolution of support on a future city commission agenda. But commissioners said they did want to learn a little bit more about how a new system would work, particularly about what assurances there would be that the trains would be convenient. “When it is reliable, there is nothing like a train,” City Commissioner Mike Dever said. “The problem is, people have gotten used to reliability. When it is not reliable, it gets overlooked very easily.”

Stair said the biggest problem facing passenger trains was that they were often made to wait behind freight trains. But he said if state governments started investing in improvements to railroad tracks — which would still be owned by the rail companies — the states would be in a position to pressure the railroads to give more preference to passenger trains. The system has worked well in parts of Oklahoma, Stair said. In the late 1990s, a new Amtrak route was established between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. Original projections called for about 25,000 passengers a year. Instead, the service attracts about 70,000 riders. Fares for a round trip between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth are $50. The trip takes about four hours. Stair said he thought Lawrence was the type of town that could particularly benefit from rail service because the city’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe Depot is within walking distance of hotels, shopping and other amenities that would attract weekend visitors. “What we’re really talking about here is economic development,” Stair said.

Ark City Traveler: Local train service gains steam (1/11/08)

Local train service gains steam

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

Local officials said Thursday they support the extension of Amtrak's Heartland Flyer passenger rail service from Oklahoma to Kansas, with a planned stop in Arkansas City.

They commented on a presentation given that afternoon by passenger rail proponent Evan Stair at Cowley College's Brown Center.

"We need this," said Arkansas City Mayor Dotty Smith of the proposed Amtrak expansion.

Smith said she would bring a packet of information compiled by the Northern Flyer Alliance to the next City Commission work session Monday. The packet includes support letters from Oklahoma and Kansas officials, a route map and estimated costs of extending the line.

Stair is a spokesman for the Northern Flyer Alliance that seeks to bring Amtrak service from Oklahoma City north to Arkansas City, Newton and Kansas City.

The Heartland Flyer has made daily runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth for the past eight years.

"What we are suggesting is to develop a 606-mile corridor between Kansas City and Fort Worth," Stair said. "We would extend the service to Edmond, Guthrie, Perry, Ponca City, Arkansas City/Winfield and Wichita."

He estimated the startup cost of extending the line between the state line and Newton at $2.1 million. Cost of extending the line from Oklahoma City to the Kansas line would be about $2.9 million, he said.

The annual operation cost would be about $12.7 million, he said. Of that amount, Kansas would pay an estimated $5.9 million, Oklahoma, an estimated $5.3 million, and Texas an estimated $1.5 million. (The cost each state pays varies based on the number of route miles run in each state, Stair said.)

If a bill being considered by the U.S. Congress becomes law, the states could pay less. The Senate has already passed the bill.

"We are waiting for it to go through the house," he said. "It is veto-proof and if it passes it will make the (Heartland Flyer) project cost for the three states $2.6 million with a $10.1 federal match."

Cowley County Commissioner Dick Bonfy said after the presentation that he personally supports the proposed Amtrak expansion.

"I'm surprised how reasonable (costs) can be." He added that it would still cost a lot of money, but the cost seemed reasonable.

Stair said Amtrak is underfunded by the federal government so the states have been supporting the costs of Amtrak lines in various regions of the country.

Train ridership is becoming more popular, he said, in part because of rising oil prices. Motorists now pay $3 a gallon at the pump.

Once a rail center with passenger service, for the past 30 years Arkansas City has had only two transportation options -- "You can drive or you can drive to the airport," Stair said.

"Our transportation system has neglected smaller cities and towns," he said. "Many small towns have dried up because of lack of transportation."

But towns with Amtrak stops have increased economic development activity as well as more transportation choices and a better quality of life, he said.

Stair said Amtrak's positive economic effect is shown in Gainsville, Texas. That town renovated its old rail depot and made that area into a transportation center and shopping area.

"People came down in droves that used the train station," he said. "It also serves as a Greyhound station and stop for a shuttle buses that take people around town."

Another Oklahoma town that has benefited from being a stop on the Heartland Flyer is Purcell, population 2,000, the smallest on the route, he said. The town rallied behind an effort to get Amtrak to stop there and built a new depot, Stair said.

There has been $4 million in annual economic development generated in communities that are on the Heartland Flyer line, he said.

City Commissioner McDonald said he supported an Amtrak stop here for the same reasons given in Stair's presentation.

"The transportation part is good for people to get around," McDonald said. "There's also an economic development benefit. People will stop in town, shop and stay at hotels. It would be a boon to the town."

2007

2006

2005

From the Guthrie News Leader Wednesday August 17, 2005

HEARTLAND FLYER COMING TO GUTHRIE
By Anna Politano
Guthrie News Leader

Tourists from North Texas and South Oklahoma will have the opportunity
to attend Guthrie's Bluegrass Festival by riding the Heartland Flyer
train. According to City Manager Glenn Hayes, a meeting will be held on
Friday (August 19th) to finalize an agreement between the City of
Guthrie and Amtrak Heartland Flyer. The rail service was restored in
1999, after a 20-year absence.

Economic Development Director Alba Weaver said that the service has
never passed through Guthrie before.

The typical route for the train is, from South to North, Fort Worth,
Gainesville, Ardmore, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Norman and Oklahoma City.

Weaver said that the goal of bringing the train during the Bluegrass
Festival - which will take place this year from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 - is
to boost Guthrie's tourism.

"Our goal is to expand this service to Guthrie, Stillwater and Ponca
City, and promote our city so that more people can attend the
festival," she said.

Weaver believes Guthrie's Main Street program partnership played an
important role in bringing the train service to Guthrie. Weaver added
that if the train service proves to be successful during the festival,
it will open more doors for visitors to ride the train in different
occastions, enhancing Guthrie's tourism industry.

------------------------------
NOTE: There are many errors in this story as well as revisionist
history. First, no rail lines exist between Guthrie and Stillwater. The
actual Stillwater stop would be in Perry with hopefully some kind of
throughway bus service between Enid and Stillwater, likely operated by
THE BUS, Oklahoma State University's bus system.

Second, PassengerRailOk.org members have requested that ODOT, through
state legislators and Amtrak, operate such specials since 2002.

This concept was first brought forward in a Heartland Flyer Coalition
meeting, by PassengerRailOk.org, during the Fall of 2002 and was flatly
tabled by Amtrak Fort Worth management. Not to be denied
PassengerRailOK.org contacted Richard Phelps, Amtrak Western Division
Superintendent from Los Angeles with a proposal by PassengerRailOk.org
and Phelps thought this was a good idea. This changed when ODOT saw an
invasion of what they perceived as their turf (remember, the Heartland
Flyer is the people's train, not theirs) and negotiations ended.

On December 13th 2003, PassengerRailOk.org members held a Depot Open
House and Art show at the Guthrie depot. This made the front page of
the Guthrie News Leader thanks to Michelle Brown of the newspaper (she
is a trooper!) Later the next week, the city of Guthrie, Glenn Hayes,
requested an Amtrak stop from the state, specifically ODOT Deputy
Director Paul Adams. In February of 2003, Alba Weaver requested that
the train run to Guthrie for city festivals.

Last year, after none of these festival trains operated,
PassengerRailOk.org contacted Amtrak's CEO David Gunn to investigate
why Guthrie's requested were not granted. PassengerRailOk.org further
contacted State Senator Mike Morgan to learn why ODOT had not worked on
the operations.

The paper trail has been documented and will be placed on the
PassengerRailOk.org website in the coming days.

I would like to personally thank Mr. Phil Moseley, Mr. Lester Terry,
Mr. Gordon Neff, and Ms. Norman Hatfield for their work and persistence
in making this happen. These are the true champions of passenger rail
in Guthrie. With persistence, we will force this train into Kansas.

Don't give up folks... The pressure has just begun.

Evan Stair
Executive Director
PassengerRailOk.org

2004

PASSENGER RAIL OKLAHOMA PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

July 6, 2004

www.passengerrailok.org

RE: Perry, Oklahoma Asks State for Amtrak Service

Passenger Rail Oklahoma (PRO) learned today that on June 2^nd, Perry Mayor Estell Emde requested Amtrak service from Governor Brad Henry’s office. This was a landmark day in the quest to see Amtrak service extension for connection to the Chicago-to-Los Angeles Southwest Chief in Newton, Kansas. The City of Guthrie request on January 8^th, the Langston University Request on May 26th, combined with this request show that there is an official pent up desire to see Heartland Flyer expansion. Perry would be a stop that could conveniently serve Stillwater and Enid residents. The population base served from Perry would be approximately 112,000 (Perry, Enid, Stillwater, and Oklahoma State University populations combined.) Still the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is ignoring expansion as a way to garner additional support for this train recently rated #1 in customer satisfaction.

Currently the Heartland Flyer stub ends in Oklahoma City, limiting its usefulness as an alternate form of transportation. The connection in Newton would open up new opportunities for Oklahoma and north Texas travelers desiring passenger rail service between Chicago, Los Angeles, and hundreds of destinations not currently available by the Oklahoma City-to-Fort Worth Heartland Flyer. Funding remains critical as the legislature, for the fifth year in a row, has not provided an ongoing funding source for the Heartland Flyer.

Passenger Rail Oklahoma is a grass-roots advocacy organization dedicated to the preservation and expansion of passenger rail in Oklahoma and the surrounding region.

PASSENGER RAIL OKLAHOMA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT ON GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA SERVICE

January 11, 2004

sfrr@aol.com

Passenger Rail Oklahoma (PRO) is excited about the prospect of restored passenger rail service to Guthrie even if only on a limited basis. We salute the leadership shown by Guthrie City Manager Glenn Hayes and Mayor Jon Gumerson in their pursuit of this rail transportation service for their community. Guthrie is raising the bar with their forward thinking transportation ideas.

We also salute ODOT Deputy Director Paul Adams as he works with the City of Guthrie and Amtrak to bring this service to the people of Guthrie and Edmond. We hope that ODOT, Amtrak, and the City of Guthrie will work together in good faith to expedite the process of bringing the Heartland Flyer to Guthrie at a minimal cost. This increase in service is vital to the survival of the Heartland Flyer and any delay could affect the future of this important state rail transportation project.

Edmond could also be served by this train as the line that carries the Heartland Flyer to Guthrie also runs through downtown Edmond. This would give Edmond travelers an opportunity to bypass the parking problems and lack of restroom facilities at the Oklahoma City depot with a stop in their own backyard.

These special trains will be of great benefit to Guthrie; Oklahoma; and Amtrak:

Guthrie will benefit with increased tourism. Out of state tax dollars will fill Guthrie and Oklahoma coffers as passengers worldwide will discover the Victorian charm that Guthrie has to offer. Guthrie citizens will also benefit as well. For the first time in over twenty years, they will be afforded the alternative of using passenger rail service. The increase in tourism will create new jobs benefiting a sluggish Guthrie and Oklahoma economy.

Oklahoma will benefit as constituent support for the Heartland Flyer will increase. This will hopefully translate into action at the Capitol. The Legislature, who for the last four years has ignored numerous bills that would have fully funded the Heartland Flyer, should see a state economic benefit with this expansion. This should also increase momentum for expansion beyond Guthrie to the communities of Perry, Ponca City, Wichita, and Newton, Kansas where connection can be made with the Chicago to Los Angeles Southwest Chief.

Amtrak will benefit with increased rider-ship and the more efficient utilization of their equipment. The Heartland Flyer currently idles in front of the Oklahoma City Santa Fe depot overnight, typically between 10:00PM and 8:25AM making the Heartland Flyer equipment a wasteful lazy asset for Amtrak.

PRO understands that everyone in Oklahoma benefits with this expanded service. PRO encourages ODOT to make this their number 1 priority as the transportation needs of the 21^st century will require innovative solutions beyond highway construction.

2003

PASSENGER RAIL OKLAHOMAPRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/28/2003

CORRECTION TO DAILY OKLAHOMAN QUOTE

Passenger Rail Oklahoma (PRO) would like to correct a statement in Greg Elwell’s 12/25/2003article Guthrie to Seek Heartland Flyer. The comment attributed to Paul Adams, State Transportation Department Deputy Director, is extremely misleading incorrect.

State Transportation Department Deputy Director Paul Adams said while Guthrie has not submitted a request for a stop, the discussion has been going on for about a year. The problem is figuring how to run the train north of Oklahoma City. "It takes money to lay the track and run the train up to Guthrie," he said." That money would have to come from somewhere, and most likely, it would be from Amtrak and ODOT."

Track is in place today between Fort Worthand Newton(Wichita), Kansasand has been since 1887. This track runs on the west side of Downtown Guthrie and is on the same line used by the Heartland Flyer passenger train. This track north of Oklahoma City, like the track upon which the Heartland Flyer operates today, is mainline quality and is therefore capable of supporting passenger rail service equal to that of today’s Heartland Flyer north of Oklahoma City. With grade crossing signal upgrades, such as those that have been performed between the Red Riverand Oklahoma City, this track could easily accommodate 80 MPH service.

PRO strongly encourages the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to expand the Heartland Flyer to Newton, Kansasin order to maximize passenger ridership potential. In Newton, the Heartland Flyer would connect with Amtrak’s Chicagoto Los Angeles Southwest Chief. PRO believes that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is missing a grand opportunity to provide Oklahomat