Amtrak's Heartland Flyer will stay on the tracks a little longer after a year's worth of funding is approved

The Heartland Flyer passenger rail line that connects Fort Worth to Oklahoma City has narrowly avoided being derailed, at least for now.

Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, which has served the 206-mile route between the two cities for the past 25 years, was set to halt operations this October after Texas lawmakers cut its annual funding from the budget during the last legislative session.

But on Thursday, the North Central Texas Council of Governments voted to approve $3.5 million in funding, ensuring the line can continue operating for at least another year.

“It’s a safe way to travel, it’s an efficient way to travel, and it’s a connection to our past,” said passenger Jeremy Ring, who sees the train as a piece of American history.

For some, like Oklahoma traveler Howard Braden, Thursday marked their first time on the route.

“I do a lot of traveling with cars and motorcycles,” Braden said. “I wanted to see what it was like as a passenger.”

The Heartland Flyer carried nearly 80,000 passengers last year, according to Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates. He said the train isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s a critical piece of infrastructure.

“This is simply a band-aid approach right now,” LeCody said, “but it’s essential to keep the train running.”

He adds that the line will become even more vital as North Texas prepares to host FIFA World Cup matches in 2026, which will bring tens of thousands of tourists to the region.

“You’re talking about a lot of sales tax,” he said. “Folks get off the train, go eat at restaurants, stay at hotels.”

The Heartland Flyer has historically been funded jointly by Texas and Oklahoma. While Oklahoma has continued its support, Texas's recent withdrawal had put the route in jeopardy.

Passengers like Braden and Ring believe both states should be working together to preserve it.

“Oklahoma’s paid their part,” Braden said. “I think Texas ought to reach in and pay their part and keep this thing running.”

Amtrak, in a statement, warned that ending the service would “sever a well-established transportation network.” LeCody hopes cities along the route from Fort Worth to Gainesville and beyond will help fund the line in the future.

“If we lose our history,” Ring said, “that doesn’t say that much good about our future,” said Ring.