The Wichita Valley Chapter To Take Amtrak to the Heartland

Proudly in collaboration with Heather Sutherlin and The Travel Bug Girls!

Amtrak locomotive No. 158 sits on the Heartland Flyer after having just arrived to Fort Worth, TX. It awaits its departure time before heading back north to Oklahoma City, OK on June 24, 2021. Credit: Corrender Taylor

The railroading community was blindsided late this Spring with the surprise announcement that Amtrak's Heartland Flyer would cease operations this summer. This comes during a highly anticipated return of long distance passenger service spearheaded by Amtrak. The United States Government granted Amtrak $22 billion in funding over a five year period as part of a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law in 2021. This marks the largest investment in Amtrak since its inception in 1971. Throughout 2022 to 2024 Amtrak and FRA conducted a lengthy study all across the US with announcements of new and returning routes.

The Heartland Flyer operates daily between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Fort Worth, Texas. Annual ridership continued to grow throughout 2024 to just over 80,000. So, The official announcement brought about a shock and panic to Texas and Oklahoma citizens alike. Many questioned the reasoning from the Texas Legislature as many continue to use the route to commute to work. Nonetheless, the unpopular decision is expected to be put into place on June 30th, 2025. Many rumors circulated about what time frame the route would close for good. Many included the end of the year as ODOT and TXDOT funding ran out, by June 1st and mid June.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad locomotive No. 2014 departs Grapevine, TX for its 12PM run on September 25, 2021. Credit: Andrew Aguilar

Fortunately, for the Wichita Valley Chapter this falls right in line with their plans this June. At the beginning of the year the Executive Board met to discuss this years meetings and events. They selected the June meeting to spend riding Amtrak's Heartland Flyer at the recommendation of the Chapter's President, Steve Allen Goen. Plans certainly began getting set in place as they learned of the new route closure. Chapter Vice President, Julia Eriksen, worked closely with travel agent, Heather Sutherlin of Travel Bug Girls out of Wichita Falls, TX. She was enthusiastic to work with the chapter to make this event possible for the chapter and its members.

MKT locomotive No. 48 sits on display ready for its next weekend excursion at the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City, OK. Credit: Corrender Taylor

Heather got to work quickly and delivered an exciting itinerary to the chapter board. The weekend spectacle turned into a railroad enthusiasts dream adding two museum rides and a museum tour in addition to the Heartland Flyer. The weekend excursion is expected to take three days time from June 19th to the 21st. Registrants will hop on the days Heartland Flyer and spending their day at the Fort Worth Stockyards enjoying the stores and restaurants before hopping aboard their biggest attraction, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. They will then hop on Amtrak to head back to OKC before enjoying a tour of the Oklahoma Railway Museum followed by a ride on their excursion train.

For trip registration or more information, please contact Heather at Travel Bug Girls (501)306-5558 or heathersutherlin@travelbuggirls.com.