Passenger Trains > Heartland flyer

Gainesville TX back in March, credit mom for the video:)

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

No wonder Texas doesn't want to spend $3,000,000 for its portion of this train. Two cars and two engines and there doesn't appear to be anyone waiting at the station. Save the taxpayers the $3 mil. and run a bus instead. Nice video tho.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/26 09:04 by runnerdude.

To bad they cant find a couple of cars for this train.
And that they havent been able to run a 2nd and or even a 3rd train on this route.
I would think if they had the proper funding. This route could grow with ridership.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

GP25 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To bad they cant find a couple of cars for this
> train.
> And that they havent been able to run a 2nd and or
> even a 3rd train on this route.
> I would think if they had the proper funding. This
> route could grow with ridership.

I agree.

I believe multiple, reliable frequencies is more important to passenger growth than a single train extension.

If Texas HSR lives, as it appears that it might, Houston - Dallas moving on to Ft. Worth could spawn additional connecting corridors.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GP25 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > To bad they cant find a couple of cars for this
> > train.
> > And that they havent been able to run a 2nd and
> or
> > even a 3rd train on this route.
> > I would think if they had the proper funding.
> This
> > route could grow with ridership.
>
> I agree.
>
> I believe multiple, reliable frequencies is more
> important to passenger growth than a single train
> extension.
>
> If Texas HSR lives, as it appears that it might,
> Houston - Dallas moving on to Ft. Worth could
> spawn additional connecting corridors.

I would like to think the HF and the HSR could feed off each other.
And as you said spawn additional connecting service.


 

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

GP25 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To bad they cant find a couple of cars for this
> train.
> And that they havent been able to run a 2nd and or
> even a 3rd train on this route.
> I would think if they had the proper funding. This
> route could grow with ridership.

They could do like North Carolina did and provide their own equipment and not be dependant on Amtrak.

nice work mom!

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They could do like North Carolina did and provide
> their own equipment and not be dependant on
> Amtrak.

Of course, North Carolina Railroad Company being wholly owned by the State of NC helps.

Here is information on how it operates:

Homepage - North Carolina Railroad Company

> To bad they cant find a couple of cars for this train. And that they havent been able to run a 2nd and or even a 3rd train on this route.
> I would think if they had the proper funding. This route could grow with ridership.
>
It's currently running with 3 cars.

> No wonder Texas doesn't want to spend $3,000,000 for its portion of this train. Two cars and two engines and there doesn't appear to be anyone
> waiting at the station. Save the taxpayers the $3 mil. and run a bus instead. Nice video tho.
>
I wish tourists would visit Fort Worth by bus, but they won't. If they do, I'm never able to find them. 
I've been dealing with passengers at Fort Worth Central for over two years, and have encountered one *one* tourist from Oklahoma visit via bus.

SAAP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > To bad they cant find a couple of cars for
> this train. And that they havent been able to
> run a 2nd and or even a 3rd train on this route.
> > I would think if they had the proper funding.
> This route could grow with ridership.
> >
> It's currently running with 3 cars.

Is the ridership there to run with a 3rd car and or maybe run with a 4 car in the near future?
 

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

> Is the ridership there to run with a 3rd car and or maybe run with a 4 car in the near future?
>  
I would say yes to 3 cars as I've seen it sold out several times over the years - especially when there are certain events going at the Convention Center (two blocks form the station), and of course OU weekend.
I would love to have Amtrak numbers, but from my unscientific observations, the busiest days are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
You can count the actual riders by watching the Trinity Metro's live railcam when the train arrives at the station. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/26 18:27 by SAAP.

Amtrak rebuilt 3 hilevels for this service they had to get rid of them further hurting a thin fleet of superliners, inept  mgmt  BNSF bought 2 of them, one burned iirc