Passenger Trains > Iowa Pacific to operate Tulsa-OKC

Passenger Rail Set To Connect OKC, Tulsa
Dec 20, 2013
News9.com

> OKLAHOMA CITY -
>
> There's a new passenger rail service connecting the Oklahoma City
> metro and Tulsa. The "Eastern Flyer" is presented by Iowa Pacific
> and Stillwater Central Railroad and it will run between Midwest City
> and Sapulpa.
>
> The first trip is slated for February 9, followed by additional
> trips on Feb. 15 and 23, 2014. Train departures from Sapulpa are at 8
> a.m., returning to Sapulpa at 6:30 p.m. Packages and fares start at
> $70 per adult and $64 per child.
>
> Passengers arriving in OKC will have the option of boarding
> motorcoaches from the train stop to Bricktown, the National Cowboy &
> Western Heritage Museum or, on selected dates, a Thunder game.
>
> If you would like to book a ticket on the Eastern Flyer, or learn
> more information about its services, please call (877) 726-7245.
> Tickets go on sale beginning Dec. 23, 2013.

LINK:

Passenger Rail Set To Connect OKC, Tulsa

As noted in comments, this is an excursion service, not true scheduled intercity
passenger rail. Iowa Pacific has arranged a dedicated shuttle bus from the train
stop in Midwest City to Bricktown and other locations in Oklahoma City.

Other commentary:

"Iowa Pacific Holdings has proposed 8 daily round trips, eventually downtown to
downtown, with NO taxpayer operational subsidy."
---------------------------------------------------

"This is just the first step, not the end-all, in reintroducing passenger rail
service to Tulsa. Further, Iowa Pacific is a for-profit corporation, unlike Amtrak
that requires state subsidy. These trips will not require a bail-out. For fiscally
conservative Oklahomans this should be refreshing.

"The state of Oklahoma owns the rails between Oklahoma City (Midwest City) and
Sapulpa. The only reason this passenger service will not operate between Tulsa
and Oklahoma City is that the state of Oklahoma owns the Midwest City – Sapulpa
line. This line is in turn leased it to the Stillwater Central Railroad.

"Negotiations to access downtown Oklahoma City depot and downtown Tulsa are
no doubt underway. Eventually this could lead to Tulsa being reconnected with
the national passenger rail system in Oklahoma City through the Heartland Flyer."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/13 13:25 by GenePoon.

Too bad they can't run the entire national passenger system sans NEC.

I'm all for this! Hope it is a success. I'd love to see more of this around the nation. Many secondary lines are now owned by shortlines. Here in Cincy, I'd pay good money to ride a Cincinnati-Columbus train on the I&O or Cincinnati-Indianapolis, Columbus-Pittsgurgh (Rook Yard has been used in the past in PGH for OC excursions). I wish them the best.

I wonder, does Iowa Pacific make any net profit on the passenger operations on Saratoga & North Creek? Or does it need the freight operations to cross subsidize the passenger operations? Just curious.

What is the status of the station in Tulsa? The Union Station in OKC is in private hands, but still stands, I know, with track access.

That part reading:

Iowa Pacific to operate Tulsa-OKC

should read:

Iowa Pacific to operate Sapulpa-Midwest City

Sure. Just like flying from Cincinnati to Washington is really Covington to Baltimore.

I have been to both Sapulpa and Midwest City, several times. From downtown Tulsa, it is the same travel time to Sapulpa as it is to the Tulsa airport.

At Midwest City, anyone who gets off our train will board a shuttle bus to Bricktown, the Chesapeake Energy Arena, or the National Cowboy and Heritage Museum. It will be at least as seamless as arriving in "San Francisco" on the California Zephyr...


CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That part reading:
>
> Iowa Pacific to operate Tulsa-OKC
>
> should read:
>
> Iowa Pacific to operate Sapulpa-Midwest City

---

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Passenger Rail Set To Connect OKC, Tulsa
> Dec 20, 2013
> News9.com
>
> > OKLAHOMA CITY -
> >
> > There's a new passenger rail service connecting
> the Oklahoma City
> > metro and Tulsa. The "Eastern Flyer" is
> presented by Iowa Pacific
> > and Stillwater Central Railroad and it will run
> between Midwest City
> > and Sapulpa.
> >
> > The first trip is slated for February 9,
> followed by additional
> > trips on Feb. 15 and 23, 2014. Train departures
> from Sapulpa are at 8
> > a.m., returning to Sapulpa at 6:30 p.m. Packages
> and fares start at
> > $70 per adult and $64 per child.
> >
> > Passengers arriving in OKC will have the option
> of boarding
> > motorcoaches from the train stop to Bricktown,
> the National Cowboy &
> > Western Heritage Museum or, on selected dates, a
> Thunder game.
> >
> > If you would like to book a ticket on the
> Eastern Flyer, or learn
> > more information about its services, please call
> (877) 726-7245.
> > Tickets go on sale beginning Dec. 23, 2013.
>
> LINK:
>
> Passenger Rail Set To Connect OKC, Tulsa
>
> As noted in comments, this is an excursion
> service, not true scheduled intercity
> passenger rail. Iowa Pacific has arranged a
> dedicated shuttle bus from the train
> stop in Midwest City to Bricktown and other
> locations in Oklahoma City.
>
> Other commentary:
>
> "Iowa Pacific Holdings has proposed 8 daily round
> trips, eventually downtown to
> downtown, with NO taxpayer operational subsidy."
> --------------------------------------------------
> -
>
> "This is just the first step, not the end-all, in
> reintroducing passenger rail
> service to Tulsa. Further, Iowa Pacific is a
> for-profit corporation, unlike Amtrak
> that requires state subsidy. These trips will not
> require a bail-out. For fiscally
> conservative Oklahomans this should be
> refreshing.
>
> "The state of Oklahoma owns the rails between
> Oklahoma City (Midwest City) and
> Sapulpa. The only reason this passenger service
> will not operate between Tulsa
> and Oklahoma City is that the state of Oklahoma
> owns the Midwest City – Sapulpa
> line. This line is in turn leased it to the
> Stillwater Central Railroad.
>
> "Negotiations to access downtown Oklahoma City
> depot and downtown Tulsa are
> no doubt underway. Eventually this could lead to
> Tulsa being reconnected with
> the national passenger rail system in Oklahoma
> City through the Heartland Flyer."

Nice. I haven't ridden that line since the last days of the Frisco Oklahoman.

eee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It will be at least as seamless as arriving in "San
> Francisco" on the California Zephyr...

Arriving right in downtown Oklahoma City, eh? LOL!

---

Hope Ellis is making a smart move on this, especially since passenger trains can't make a profit, but they are needed, let's see how this turns out!