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RAIL EMPLOYMENT & NOTICES



Rail News Home Amtrak

5/5/2026



Rail News: Amtrak

Texas-Oklahoma Amtrak route in jeopardy again


TxDOT was required by contract to issue the notice of discontinuance.
Photo – Amtrak

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The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in late April issued a 90-day discontinuance of service notice for the state-sponsored Amtrak Heartland Flyer route, which runs daily between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas.

The service won't immediately halt at the end of those 90 days, however. The Heartland Flyer is jointly funded by TxDOT and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which has adequate funding to support the service through the end of the year, according to a release by Texas Rail Advocates.

When Texas legislators in 2025 did not include funding for the Heartland Flyer in the state's budget, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCG) authorized emergency funding to support the route through August 2026. With that date approaching, TxDOT was required by contract to issue the notice of discontinuance.

Neither the Oklahoma nor Texas legislature has approved funding for the route in 2027, according to a report by the Oklahoma Voice. Both states' transportation departments and the NCTCG are in conversation about how to accomplish funding for next year, Texas Rail Advocates officials said.



Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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