Eastern Flyer
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Eastern Flyer is a proposed medium distance inter-city train traveling from Oklahoma City in central Oklahoma to Tulsa in north-eastern Oklahoma. It is a private operation, operated by the Iowa Pacific railroad, and its services are to include a dome car, coaches and full meal service. This would be the first regular passenger service to Tulsa since 1967.
Initial commercial demonstration test trips were conducted in February 2014, running between Oklahoma City and the Tulsa suburb of Sapulpa with stops in Stroud and Bristow.[1] In late 2014, Iowa Pacific offered one-hour "Polar Express" excursions on the Eastern Flyer out of Bristow, inspired by the children's book and film of the same name, to promote the service.[2] In March 2015, service was estimated to begin in May or "early summer", with rail service from Sapulpa to Midwest City, with bus shuttles on each end.[3] In June, Iowa Pacific said the start date would be further delayed, as both Oklahoma City and Tulsa considered efforts to facilitate rail service connecting the cities' downtowns.[4]
References
- ↑ "Eastern Flyer train from Sapulpa to Oklahoma City sells out all three trips", Tulsa World, January 9, 2014.
- ↑ Brandy McDonnell, "'The Polar Express' Train Ride chugging toward Oklahoma debut Friday in Bristow", The Oklahoman, November 16, 2014.
- ↑ Jarrel Wade, "Passenger rail service between Tulsa and OKC pushed back to May; tickets expected to be about $20", Tulsa World, March 29, 2015.
- ↑ Jarrel Wade, "Passenger rail not coming to Tulsa as soon as hoped", Tulsa World, June 1, 2015.