Passenger Rail Set To Connect OKC, Tulsa

[RDW]

Artist,  sorry, but I don't have any flyers.  But, I bet if you go to easternflyer.com and use their "contact" link, they'd be happy to help you out.

[Red Arrow]

Artist,  sorry, but I don't have any flyers.  But, I bet if you go to easternflyer.com and use their "contact" link, they'd be happy to help you out.

I saw in the TW that about 700 have signed up so far for the excursions.  Wow!  And Congratulations.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/transportation/interest-in-tulsa-okc-passenger-rail-heightens-again/article_f393140d-fca5-5b37-8c35-1173f0175e9f.html

Some 700 tickets sold already for Eastern Flyer
Organizers of the Eastern Flyer, the promotional rail service from Sapulpa to Oklahoma City, reported on Friday afternoon more than 700 tickets sold in its first week of sales.
The rail service, which operates on the Stillwater Central Railroad in conjunction with the Iowa Pacific, has promotional trains scheduled for Feb. 9, 15 and 23.
The Feb. 15 train has sold out tickets for standard class and standard with first-class dining service. Tickets for all classes on the other two trains remain as of Friday afternoon.
Tickets range from $69.75 to $271.50.

[RDW]

The latest unofficial figure I have is 870 of 900 tickets sold.  In one week, with no formal ad campaign.  Just some news items and social media.  Pretty impressive.

[carltonplace]

Very impressive.

[Weatherdemon]

The latest unofficial figure I have is 870 of 900 tickets sold.  In one week, with no formal ad campaign.  Just some news items and social media.  Pretty impressive.

Wow!
Impressive! Guess I was wrong on how this thing would go 

[dbacksfan 2.0]

The latest unofficial figure I have is 870 of 900 tickets sold.  In one week, with no formal ad campaign.  Just some news items and social media.  Pretty impressive.

Count me as surprised. Never expected that large of a response.

[Gaspar]

I'd ride it once as a curiosity with the kids, but I doubt it would become a routine mode of travel to OKC.  I'd view it more as an attraction than transportation. I hope they can sustain those numbers.

[BKDotCom]

Sold Out

Shows what we know.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/transportation/eastern-flyer-train-from-sapulpa-to-oklahoma-city-sells-out/article_9948617a-794d-11e3-b906-001a4bcf6878.html

[RecycleMichael]

Shows what we know.

I had a good feeling about this from the beginning. It ain't for everybody, but it is great for others.

Thanks to rdw and the others.

[RDW]

Some new info. 

In 1998, BNSF owned the line from downtown Tulsa to OKC.  They sold Sapulpa -OKC to the state.  Since then, ODOT has been telling the public that, since BNSF retained ownership from Sapulpa - downtown Tulsa, we would have to negotiate with BNSF for access from Sapulpa - downtown and they could refuse access if they want.  According to ODOT, that was the hold up to passenger rail.

I recently read the 1998 purchase contract between BNSF and ODOT.  It specifically says that BNSF grants access for 99 years to ODOT or any of ODOT's licensees to run up to 4 round trips per day on its line from Sapulpa - downtown Tulsa, and sets out the pricing structure.

In other words ODOT has been misrepresenting the facts to the public for 15 years.  We could have service into downtown Tulsa today.

Wonder why ODOT would do that?

[Conan71]

Some new info. 

In 1998, BNSF owned the line from downtown Tulsa to OKC.  They sold Sapulpa -OKC to the state.  Since then, ODOT has been telling the public that, since BNSF retained ownership from Sapulpa - downtown Tulsa, we would have to negotiate with BNSF for access from Sapulpa - downtown and they could refuse access if they want.  According to ODOT, that was the hold up to passenger rail.

I recently read the 1998 purchase contract between BNSF and ODOT.  It specifically says that BNSF grants access for 99 years to ODOT or any of ODOT's licensees to run up to 4 round trips per day on its line from Sapulpa - downtown Tulsa, and sets out the pricing structure.

In other words ODOT has been misrepresenting the facts to the public for 15 years.  We could have service into downtown Tulsa today.

Wonder why ODOT would do that?

Maybe they don't have a sharp attorney who knows how to read a contract. 

Thank you for your research and hard work on this, Rick.

[TheArtist]

Boy thats interesting.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

In other words ODOT has been misrepresenting the facts to the public for 15 years.  We could have service into downtown Tulsa today.

ODOT lied?

[carltonplace]

ODOT lied?

Gosh, what could their motivation possibly be?

[TheArtist]

Gosh, what could their motivation possibly be?

As I have paid more attention to the subject of transit I have learned that there are quite a number of interests arrayed against transit and TOD.  Many Republicans, and far right religious people, especially ones in Oklahoma, are against it (the black helicopter crowd think its an evil plot to rob Americans of their freedom, aka the automobile, and trap us all in high-rise cities).  The oil, auto, gas station, asphalt, etc. industries are against it. Even some in the healthcare industry are against it (there is a lot of money to be made in an unhealthy populace, and after talking to some folks in Detroit they point out that believe it or not there is money to be made in a dying city by certain interests.).  And to be fair there are good people who have other concerns and simply believe there are higher priorities elsewhere.