Bringing back passenger rail service to Wichita is an exciting idea that deserves a closer look.
A local rail group is pushing plans to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer route from Oklahoma City north through Wichita to Kansas City. Proponents argue that it would give travelers more options and boost tourism by reviving the old Union Station depot on the doorstep of Old Town.
It’s possible many more Wichitans would choose rail if they didn’t have to catch the train in Newton in the middle of the night. And shouldn’t a city of Wichita’s size diversify and strengthen its travel infrastructure along this important economic corridor?
It remains unclear whether the route makes sense financially or logistically for our state — but a good first step would be for Kansas lawmakers to ask Amtrak to conduct a feasibility study.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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20 Comments
While it sounds good in theory, practice will prove it unworkable.
Let’s see; I can travel from here to the Southeast on Amtrak, and it will take 1.5 days and cost twice as much as a plane ticket. Greyhound is slightly quicker, and a whole lot cheaper than Amtrak. If the track was added, it might save some time, but I doubt the cost of the ticket would go down.
I do not mind having passenger trains as an option, but make them financially viable for the average citizen. As long as Amtrak is a quasi-government entity, it will not be affordable or desirable.
> shouldn’t a city of Wichita’s size diversify and strengthen its travel infrastructure
Yes!
>along this important economic corridor?
We are missing economic benefits to a city this size by choices of past failure county and city leadership.
Failure of the airport is proof, not enough airline competition and subsidy of flights.
We can make this an important economic corridor but to me isn’t that yet. We can’t gather together in thousands constantly reflects that. Its group movement economics that pushes growing communities.
We don’t have a NEED for passenger trains through this area. Its for mass transportation. Not the individual dreams of train travel for leisure purposes.
Then speed of any train matters. If scheduling business travel on the trains. It can’t go slower than highway traffic. It has to be “high speed”. Higher the speed, more costly to construct the train business. 100 mph or more!
We have to think, where does Wichitans want to go on a train, than assisting a plan to get trains coming through here.
Wichita could be a hub in different directions for high speed rail service. To Oklahoma City, to St. Louis, to the Colorado border. Toward Nebraska last. NO, the train shouldn’t angle toward KC. Make all in KC drive into Kansas to catch the train going fast. They have a good airport to take flights.
This is a south central Kansas project first.
It’s not going to be Topeka pushing this plan. It’s larger than grassroots.
We do need a feasibility study by AMTRAK to tell whether this proposed rail line from Newton via Wichita to Oklahoma City and Ft Worth would be feasible.
Regarding the middle of the night arrival of Amtrak trains in Newton, I suspect that’s the price we pay for being midway between the two ends of the line in Chicago and California.
We do need a feasibility study by AMTRAK to tell whether this proposed rail line from Newton via Wichita to Oklahoma City and Ft Worth would be feasible.
Regarding the middle of the night arrival of Amtrak trains in Newton, I suspect that’s the price we pay for being midway between the two ends of the line in Chicago and California.
“We do need a feasibility study by AMTRAK to tell whether this proposed rail line from Newton via Wichita to Oklahoma City and Ft Worth would be feasible.”
No, we need a feasibility study by an independent 3rd party. Asking Amtrak if this is feasibly is like asking my kids want candy, they will always say yes.
Why would you want a loser like amtrak coming to your city? Their trains are not clean, behind schedule, and what if the Govt. pulls the subsidy? The rails are already jammed with freight traims. My experience with amtrak was miserable, won’t ever ride them again.
“Reasonably high speed” rail service connecting Wichita with KC, OkC, Denver would be a benefit. One thing that would allow is connections with flights from those cities’ airports.
Throughout the country airport congestion is becoming a major problem. Discussions are underway about building entirely new airports in locations like San Benito County south of San Francisco to take the pressure off the existing airports. Needless to say, this has met stiff resistence. Similar problems loom at O’Hare (Chicago); Hartsfield (Atlanta) and elsewhere.
Instead of building new airports we should couple air and rail. This could eliminate most flights of less than 400 miles. That, in turn, would relieve airport congestion.
I definitely AM in support of the rail idea. A person can see more scenery than on a bus, able to get up and move around without having to feel like a sardine, It will help out our town’s image as well. The high speed rail is an idea, however let’s put our money into something more worthwhile like this instead of the stupid WaterWalk or the Downtown Arena that was voted in by the rich snobs who have their noses so high up in the air that a passing 747 lops off their noses. This town has been lacking on some important needs for a long time like a fire station in SE Wichita, or streets that are finally getting worked on. I for one am tired with the “rich” who get their way all the time. Us blue collar types are a whole lot better than those idiots.
“Instead of building new airports we should couple air and rail. This could eliminate most flights of less than 400 miles. That, in turn, would relieve airport congestion.”
Well said Ben…
Places like Mid-Con wouldnt need flights to OKC, KC, Joplin, and maybe even Denver. I would see a huge increase in efficeny in the North East and CA…
I would see a huge advantage in transportation centralization by converting existing airports into air/rail-ports. We could utilize the existing security, car rental, storage, bagage handeling, etc… from the existing system to handle rail service. I would be much happier hopping a train in ICT to OKC or KC to catch a flight to Atlanta or San Francisco.
If the government would stop “helping” with subsidies to the transportation industry, investors would be interested in the money to be made by providing inexpensive travel to near or far destinations.
I’d ride good trains on real schedules for affordable fares, frequently. But I don’t see that happening under the current system.
Amtrak reminds me of the Postal Service. Indifferent product and service, propped up by federal subsidies. In the case of the Postal Service, that indifference hasn’t changed to compete with email, fax, and Fedex. I doubt Amtrak will improve either so long as they’re just harvesting tax dollars.
Perhaps the govt involvement in rail should be similar to hiways and airports - fixed assets only and not rolling stock.
Train travel is my personal favorite, as I can get up, walk around, etc. Frankly, I don’t fit in a “coach” class seat on an airliner, and cannot afford “first class” or even “business class”.
The issue is one of time versus cost. For intercity rail to succeed, there must be an improvement in speed, and reliability of schedule. Since it’s going to take longer (perhaps) to get from point A to point B, the consumer isn’t going to want to pay as much. I’m a romantic, yearning for the days of ‘coast to coast’ train travel; but realistically, in today’s world, who has that kind of time, especially where one is traveling, as I, primarily on business (when I travel, which thakfully is less and less).
The idea of ’short runs’ makes sense, as appears to be happening to some success in the Northeast; I understand that when one takes into account the time involved in getting to the airport, etc., through leaving the airport on the other end of the trip, it can often be quicker to take the train, especially when the destination is ‘downtown’.
“Instead of building new airports we should couple air and rail. This could eliminate most flights of less than 400 miles. That, in turn, would relieve airport congestion.”
“That is a good ideal Ben!”
Damn, it is too bad that I am not a billionaire!A high speed rail service hub in Wichita connecting to all the major cities in the surrounding states would be a worthy investment to make.It is successful in the northeast; it can be successful in the mid-west.
Is there anybody on this board who still enjoys commercial air travel?A few years ago I rode rail all over Japan. Screamingly fast, much more comfort than air, and punctual to the minute. Completely government owned I think, but without the US civil servant “shrug of indifference” to it. Different culture, of course. I would gladly pay a premium over airfare for a free-market version of that in the US.
We had trains here at one time but I can’t remember what has happen to it that cause it to be shut down.Does anyone remember and can Kansas.com do an article on the history of it?
How about a train from Wichita to the KC airport. I would bet that would get a lot of business.
Ben — I wanted to add my thanks for your excellent idea!
Currently there is no security for rail travel. NONE. Buy your ticket online, no one asks for ID when you board, no one monitors what you carry on.
Boy, wouldn’t this put a kink in things like those whose palms are being greased for the new airport in Wichita, the subsidies for one airline, my mind races to think of the kinks for some AND SOLUTIONS for many that could come from your idea.
Are you trying to be a trouble maker or does it just come naturally. lol
It’s a good idea to bring passenger service north. It’s ridiculous the way it is now, with the end of the line in Ok City.
As for you idiots who don’t like gov’t subsidies for Amtrak, who the hell do you think is paying for the road in front of your house?
Dumb oxen.
Lastly, look at the advantages of rail as opposed to air–practically no weather related delays, safer, more comfortable, and even though they are slower, they take you right to the city center.
The airport in Houston is so far out of town, you practically have to bring a sleeping bag and pack a few meals for the bus ride in . . .
Oh, and by the way, airport construction is subsidized too, dumb oxen.
linda - “Are you trying to be a trouble maker or does it just come naturally. lol”
It comes naturally - and it runs in the family!