August 25, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

Texas secured the future of one of its most vital regional rail connections today with the signing of an agreement among the Texas Department of Transportation, and Amtrak to sustain the Heartland Flyer, the passenger rail line linking Fort Worth, Gainesville and Oklahoma City. The agreement, championed by State Senator Tan Parker, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, ends months of uncertainty over the route's future and ensures continued service for the tens of thousands of Texans and Oklahomans who depend on it.

In the 12 months ending last September, 80,767 rode the Flyer, with both record ridership and ticket revenue.

"Securing the future of the Heartland Flyer has been a priority of mine, and I'm glad to see Texas, Oklahoma, and Amtrak come together on this agreement. This route matters. It connects North Texas communities to jobs, education, and each other, and it's a service our constituents have made clear they value. It's a win for North Texas families, our regional economy, and the future of passenger rail in our state," said State Senator Tan Parker.

Continuing Heartland Flyer service also preserves an estimated $17 million of federally-funded investments at Texas and Oklahoma stations along the 206-mile Amtrak route. Accessibility work is nearly complete at three stations and two more stations expected to be out for bid next year. 

This state funding from the Texas Transportation Commission clears the way for the “Big Game Train,” a service extension of the Heartland Flyer between Fort Worth and Dallas for football fans to attend the Red River Rivalry in Dallas October 10th between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. 

“Leadership by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Executive Director Marc Williams will keep this important service operating and connecting to local transit and the Amtrak National Network in Fort Worth,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President Jennifer Mitchell. “We will work with TxDOT, our partners in Oklahoma and the rest of the region to continue to provide the Heartland Flyer service.”

Today's signing caps months of work by Senator Parker and partners in both states to keep the Heartland Flyer running after its future was thrown into question amid funding uncertainty earlier this year. The Heartland Flyer has carried riders between Fort Worth's Central Station and Oklahoma City since 1999, with stops in Gainesville, Ardmore, Pauls Valley, and Norman, connecting travelers to jobs, universities, medical care, and family across the Texas-Oklahoma corridor. 

“Together, Texas, Oklahoma, and Amtrak have built a model for how states can partner to protect regional rail service,” Senator Parker said. “I'm grateful to Amtrak and our partners at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for their good-faith work at the table, and to the local officials, riders, and advocates across North Texas who refused to let this route disappear without a fight. Their voices made the difference.”

Senator Parker's fight to protect the Heartland Flyer has also helped build momentum for a broader wave of federal investment in Texas. Just recently, TxDOT was awarded more than $755 million from the Federal Railroad Administration's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program to advance rail grade separation projects across the state — the largest award of any state or local recipient in the nation, leveraging $77.6 million in state funds to unlock a combined $953 million investment in Texas communities. 

“Protecting the Heartland Flyer was never just about one route — it was about proving that Texas takes rail seriously, and that fight helped lay the groundwork for the state's success in landing more than $755 million in federal rail funding this year, the largest award in the nation, that will dramatically enhance the safety of rail grade crossings across the state” said Senator Parker. “When Texas shows up, Texas wins. I'll keep pushing to bring resources like this home for our communities.”

Senator Parker thanked the Texas Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and Amtrak for their partnership throughout the negotiations, along with the North Texas officials and community advocates who spoke up in support of preserving the route.