The next leg of passenger rail travel in Oklahoma seems more likely than ever. Kansas lawmakers are moving forward with a study this month that could bring Amtrak trains to Kansas and beyond.
They've been waiting to be able to spend some money on a rail passenger service study. The Journal Record reports a route expansion is likely between Oklahoma City and Newton, Kan., by 2010.
The new route would serve Guthrie, Perry, Ponca City, Arkansas City, Kan., Wichita, Kan., and Newton. At Newton, riders can take an existing Amtrak line into Kansas City.
Amtrak's Heartland Flyer ridership is up 17 percent, the newspaper reports. More than 67,000 passengers boarded the train in 2007. The Flyer began service in 1999 and now takes travelers between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.
A northbound route would nearly double the route's length. Oklahoma and Texas contribute about $2 million a year to subsidize the route. Kansans would be expected also to contribute a yearly amount to keep the trains running.
Oklahomans and Texans need to figure out a way to run more than one Heartland Flyer a day. The route is more of a tourist train as it stands. More daily departures and arrivals would bring more business riders who need to go to the Dallas-Fort Worth area each day.
Opinion
Rail service north now closer to reality
- Opinion
-
-
Outhouse enthusiast’s hobby more than a relief
Editor’s note: This previously-published column has been a reader favorite and is one of the most requested columns....
-
Homosexuals must convince themselves, God
Editor, The Transcript: I am not one of those in favor of same-sex anything. According to the Bible, homesexuality is a sin. Now maybe there is a new Bible out there — the homosexual Bible. I will check at Barnes & Noble....
-
Occupy movement built on principle
Editor, The Transcript: We the People Stand Tall! Bruce Kessler ends his letter to the editor “We the people must stand up — 8 May, 2012,” with a strong message: We the people — the very words that begin our Constitution — must work ...
-
Parents proud of two schools’ rankings
Editor, The Transcript: Norman parents are justifiably proud that U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Norman High School as No. 6 in our state and No. 862 in the nation and Norman North as No. 9 in the state and 1,096 in the nation ...
-
Reducing state rates would be of minor help
Editor, The Transcript: A Transcript editorial (May 22), in discussing the proposed reduction in income tax rates in HB 3061, states that the “trigger” mechanism is a good thing, citing the rate cut from 5.5 to 5.25 because of the 4 ...
-
Sykes trying to secure seat
Editor, The Transcript: By the time this reaches you, the issues surrounding HB 2440 may have been laid to rest. Based on your article of this date, let me make these observations....
-
Fallin proposes a flawed tax-cut plan
There was some relief in the tax-cut proposal negotiated with Gov. Mary Fallin and Republican legislative leaders, but it still calls for some difficult reductions to some necessary services....
-
Corporate deception rules
Editor, The Transcript: Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase’s chief executive, said he does not know how the bank lost $3 billion (originally estimated at $2 billion) in a trading scheme. He called the trades “sloppy” and “stupid” but could not ...
-
What features create a cultural center?
The question has been raised whether an aquatic center somehow constitutes a cultural center. Although the more thorough response would be to ask, in turn, what features create a cultural center, this short treatise will simply focus on ...
-
Keep the capitol gun-free
Attorneys working for the state AG’s office are now able to carry handguns in their duties representing state agencies. They won’t need a concealed weapon permit. It’s the same as laws allowing U.S. attorneys, district attorneys and their ...
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Outhouse enthusiast’s hobby more than a relief


