(The Associated Press circulated the following on June 5.)
OKLAHOMA CITY — Transportation officials say rising gas prices are the reason behind a 10% increase in riders on Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer.
The train runs daily to and from Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.
John Dougherty at the state Transportation Department says rising gas prices are leading people to look for travel options and the Heartland Flyer meets that need.
Nationwide passenger train use is up by 11%.
Studies are underway to determine the feasibility of extending the Heartland Flyer’s route to Tulsa or to Kansas City via Newton, Kan.
The Heartland Flyer receives $2 million a year from the Legislature to operate the train. Oklahoma partners with Texas to split the cost of the service.
On its trek from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth and back, the Heartland Flyer stops in Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Ardmore and Gainesville, Texas.
Two stops offer buses from the station to local attractions. In Norman, a van is available to take riders to Riverwind Casino. At Gainesville, a trolley service takes people to downtown, the Frank Buck Zoo and the Gainesville Factory Shops.
A ticket on the Heartland Flyer to Fort Worth typically runs $24 each way, or $48 roundtrip.