Wichita passenger rail supporters eye Oklahoma plan
BY Associated Press
Monday, February 04, 2013
2/04/13 at 6:50 AM
WICHITA, Kan. - As Wichita attempts to lure passenger rail to the city, a group in Tulsa is doing the same. But Tulsa officials said the efforts aren't in competition.
Currently, Amtrak's Heartland Flyer travels from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City.
Some want to see that train continue northward, taking it to Wichita, Newton, Kan., and possibly further on to Kansas City, Mo.
The concern for Wichita rail boosters is that an Amtrak route that included Tulsa would skirt Wichita.
But The Wichita Eagle notes that the Tulsa group exploring train service is backing a privately operated passenger train as reported in the Tulsa World, not one operated by Amtrak.
Former Tulsa Councilor Rick Westcott said there's no reason why the Heartland Flyer line couldn't be extended to Wichita, while a separate private train makes trips from Oklahoma City to Tulsa.
Original Print Headline: Wichita passenger rail backers eye Okla. plan
