FINALLY, PULLING THE PLUG ON THE HEARTLAND FLYER TEX DOT DID NOT SHELL OUT THE MILLIONS NEEDED TO COVER ITS SHARE OF THE TRAIN’S COSTS, AND TONIGHT RIDERS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM. AT KOCO. OLIVIA HICKEY SPOKE WITH TRAIN ADVOCATES TODAY WHO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FIGHT BEFORE. THIS TRAIN, THE HEARTLAND FLYER. WE CAPTURED THE FIRST TRIP OF THE HEARTLAND FLYER. IF YOU GOOGLE OKLAHOMA CITY TO FORT WORTH, THE FIRST THING THAT POPS UP IS GOING TO BE THE HEARTLAND FLYER. THAT’S THE ONLY GROUND TRANSPORTATION. BUT COULD WE SOON BE SETTING IT OFF INTO THE SUNSET? THE MORE THAN 80,000 RIDERS WHO BOARD THE AMTRAK FLIER EACH YEAR COULD SOON FIND THEMSELVES STUCK IN TRAFFIC. AS THE TRAIN GOES AWAY. WE’RE GOING TO PUT ALL THOSE FOLKS BACK OUT ON INTERSTATE 35, AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD OPTION. LAST WEEK, TEXAS D.O.T. NOTIFIED AMTRAK AND ODOT THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE PAYING ITS SHARE OF THE DAILY ROUTE BETWEEN OKLAHOMA CITY AND FORT WORTH. ODOT TELLS US TEXAS IS. SLICE OF THE PIE WAS $2.5 MILLION. IT IS PROJECTED. THERE’S ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND THE TRAIN THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST. AS THE CLOCK TICKS AND THE STATE AND AMTRAK EXPLORE ITS OPTIONS, RAIL ADVOCATES ARE LEFT SCRAMBLING. WE’RE ADVOCATING AS AS BEST AS WE CAN. THE LAST FEW TIMES, THE HEARTLAND FLYER NEARLY FLATLINED. THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS THROUGH A FEW FUNDING LIFELINES, $100,000 IN JANUARY 2025 AND $3.5 MILLION IN JULY 2025. WHEN I REACHED OUT TO NCTCOG TODAY, THEY SAID THEY WOULD, QUOTE, CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE HAD MEETINGS YESTERDAY WITH HIGH LEVEL STAFFERS AT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IN AUSTIN, AT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. WE WANT THE SERVICE HERE IN TEXAS. WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THIS OTHER FUNDING BACK
Texas ends funding for Heartland Flyer, leaving future uncertain
Texas has announced it will stop funding its share of the Heartland Flyer, raising concerns about the future of the Amtrak route between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth as advocates seek solutions.
Updated: 6:22 PM CDT May 1, 2026
The Heartland Flyer, Amtrak’s daily train route connecting Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, faces an uncertain future after the Texas Department of Transportation announced it would no longer fund its share of the service. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterPeter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, highlighted the train’s significance. “If you Google Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, the first thing that’s going to pop up is the Heartland Flyer. That’s the only direct ground transportation,” LeCody said. TxDOT recently informed Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) that it does not have the $2.5 million required to continue supporting the route. Current funding is expected to last through the end of the year, leaving rail advocates scrambling for solutions. “If the train goes away, we’re going to put all those folks back on I-35, and that’s not a good idea,” LeCody said. In previous instances when the Heartland Flyer faced funding challenges, the North Central Texas Council of Governments provided financial lifelines, including $100,000 in January 2025 and $3.5 million in July 2025. When contacted, NCTCOG stated it would “consider additional funding.” LeCody said advocates are working hard to preserve the service. “We’re advocating as best as we can,” he said. He also mentioned recent meetings with key officials in Austin, including staffers from the governor’s office, the lieutenant governor’s office, and the chief of staff for the House Appropriations Committee. “We want the service here in Oklahoma. We just have to figure out a way to get this funding back next year when our Legislature comes back,” LeCody said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.While TxDOT has not provided further comment, Amtrak stated it is collaborating with both states and has not announced any suspension or discontinuation of service. Trips remain booked for the fall and beyond.Top HeadlinesMissing State Senate candidate from western Oklahoma found dead: What we knowPerson of interest in custody after 2 employees fatally shot in Kentucky bank robberyBodycam shows moment massive Queens explosion sends NYPD officers flying during responsePolice search for suspect after woman shot in the cheek in southwest Oklahoma CityAuthorities identify body of second missing student from University of South Florida
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Heartland Flyer, Amtrak’s daily train route connecting Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, faces an uncertain future after the Texas Department of Transportation announced it would no longer fund its share of the service.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, highlighted the train’s significance.
“If you Google Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, the first thing that’s going to pop up is the Heartland Flyer. That’s the only direct ground transportation,” LeCody said.
TxDOT recently informed Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) that it does not have the $2.5 million required to continue supporting the route. Current funding is expected to last through the end of the year, leaving rail advocates scrambling for solutions.
“If the train goes away, we’re going to put all those folks back on I-35, and that’s not a good idea,” LeCody said.
In previous instances when the Heartland Flyer faced funding challenges, the North Central Texas Council of Governments provided financial lifelines, including $100,000 in January 2025 and $3.5 million in July 2025. When contacted, NCTCOG stated it would “consider additional funding.”
LeCody said advocates are working hard to preserve the service.
“We’re advocating as best as we can,” he said.
He also mentioned recent meetings with key officials in Austin, including staffers from the governor’s office, the lieutenant governor’s office, and the chief of staff for the House Appropriations Committee.
“We want the service here in Oklahoma. We just have to figure out a way to get this funding back next year when our Legislature comes back,” LeCody said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
While TxDOT has not provided further comment, Amtrak stated it is collaborating with both states and has not announced any suspension or discontinuation of service. Trips remain booked for the fall and beyond.
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