Could the Heartland Flyer see its last ride soon?

After legislators in Texas announced funding cuts for operating the Heartland Flyer, which is jointly operated by Texas and Oklahoma, the decades-long commuter rail line between the two states could be coming to an end.

Friday, April 25th 2025, 5:59 am

By: Aniysa Mapp


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Could the Heartland Flyer, Oklahoma's only passenger train, have its last ride?

It's a question many are asking after the Texas Rail Advocates announced funding for the commuter rail line is being stripped away.

The train has been picking up Oklahomans since 1999, and in 2024 alone, more than 80,000 people were able to ride the train.

The budget for operating the Heartland Flyer is jointly managed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Transportation.

However, the Texas legislature has cut funding, meaning the train could be at the end of its run.

Texas Rail Advocates, a nonprofit that educates others about the benefits of freight and passenger rail, predicts that if the train goes away, commuters will be forced to operate more than 50,000 vehicles between the two states each year.

TRA also says tourism between the two states would drop, causing a loss of sales tax revenue and hotel and restaurant traffic.

The train's last projected ride is June 30.

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