In another thread, Iron Mountain talked about extending the Heartland Flyer to Newton to connect to the SWC.
Now it appears that Oklahoma is considering putting the service up for bids to potential competitors to Amtrak. The object is to improve service and better manage costs. I would assume Amtrak would continue to provide T&E crews that would protect their unique authority to limit liability and access to freight routes.
This was reported by Trains newswire and this TV station. Interesting that one of the potential bidders is Iowa Pacific, the company that is now operating the Hoosier State for Indiana.
If this were to happen, I wonder what changes would be made and if it improve the chances of the extension to Newton.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Also of intetest; railfan-lawyer-entrepreneur-lobbyist James Coston with his Corridor Capital has a hat in the ring:
Anyone know of this potential player: Erie Lackawanna? Could that mean these folk envision some kind of "real railroad" sojourn?
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
I didn't realize there's now a bus connection to the SWC. I think this and the B&A route are the only ones we haven't ridden. While the current service looked better than most corridor trains with its Superliner equipment (saw at in Ft. Worth while on the TE), I suspect better marketing to online communities and colleges as well as improved on board service would help top line. Not sure what can be done about expenses.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
As Mr. Palmland noted, there is for the moment, Thruway bus service OKC-Newton connecting the Flyer with the SW Chief:
The bus operator can make the 137 mile in each direction round trip OKC-Newton handling passengers for both 3 and 4 - and make it back to OKC within Hours of Service. This is much like the Vegas-Kingman Van connection.that operates without subsidy.
However. In view of the 12 passenger count noted, I think a smaller vehicle, such as a nursing home bus, is order of the day.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Passengerrailok is from the same folks who brought us that fiasco from 2008-12, trying to get HSR $ for FRA Class V roadbed passenger service...