Amtrak — Local services in Oklahoma City

$31 from OKC to Fort Worth Ordered ahead online at their website, reserving a seat at the top of the train, had two carry-on bags. Arrived half an hour early than departure, went up the ramp next to the parking lot to the left of the building with a sign for Amtrak pointing up it, went through the door, and the doors to the platform were locked from people until 8 a.m., at which point people would board the train one at a time, checking with the conductor if they were on his manifest. There was no baggage checking or security, the only stipulation is that you had to wear a mask(covering above nose, under chin). Because I reserved a top seat, I was told I could choose any seat upstairs(as there are no assigned seats beyond what floor you're on). Every seat has ample legroom, an emergency exit on the window, two three-pronged outlets under the window, a storage rack above-head for your bags, a dining tray that folds down from the seat in front of you, a leg rest that folds down from in front of you, a reclining function for your chair, a leg support that folds out from under your chair, a curtain for your window, two lights above you if needed, a call button above as well, and there wasn't nearly enough passengers on board to require me to sit next to someone. The bathrooms are all located on the bottom level, and trash cans are in every car. The concessions area is located in the front car on the lower level, is card-only, and opened some time around an hour after departure, although some smarter passengers brought their own food, avoiding the overpriced snacks(a can of coke and a cup of ice costed me over $2). The train departed at exactly 8:25a.m. As someone who has never been on a train before, I'm impressed with how relatively smooth it was as a ride, with the swaying only being pronounced more because of turns and being on the top floor. The scenery was spectacular at times and the fellow passengers were friendly. When we reached Ardmore at about 10:17a.m., there was a break for passengers to have a smoke break, departing again at 10:21a.m..

The train made stops to pick up passengers in Norman, OK (roughly 20 mins. in.), Purcell, OK, Pauls Valley, OK, Ardmore, OK, and Gainesville, TX, finally reaching Fort Worth, TX at 12:15p.m., completing the journey.

Not all seats were fully functional and there was a distinct lack of "free wifi" other google reviews claim, likely...

Amtrak train and station review:

I truly wish train travel was more popular and common in the United States. We are such gluttons for instant gratification and everything has to be ‘right now’, I feel people have lost the art of what it is to travel and enjoy the journey itself.

Why would you take a 45-90 minute flight and have to deal with luggage restrictions and TSA and inspection and overcrowded planes and seats that are too small and weather delays and deicing when you can take the train and have the exact opposite of all of that?!?!

Amtrak, like all train travel, provides such a relaxed environment… Especially in the business class seats. For me, it’s not only everything you get and can enjoy on an Amtrak train, it is also everything else that you DON’T have to deal with because it’s not a plane.

Amtrak Train seating is wide and spacious, comfortable, the trains leave on time and exactly when they’re supposed to, the carriage windows are huge; The view is better from a train second floor seat than from one 40k ft above, the café serves hot food, snacks and drinks! In business class, it is actually brought to you by an attendant, complimentary. Why would you want to travel any other way? Treat yourself, you deserve this!

There’s no TSA. There’s no embarrassing inspection of your personal items. You don’t have to take off your shoes and your belt or your jacket… And for long distances, on Amtrak you can opt for your own bedroom!! It’s cozy, quiet and peaceful and private. Taking a trip in an airplane is such an invasive procedure these days. And the worst part is they want to charge and overcharge exorbitant rates to have this negative and invasive experience. Train rates are usually lower by half compared to flying!

If there is ever a “train over plane” opportunity for me to travel… I am 100% taking the Amtrak train. I cannot wait for my next trip… which is probably coming this June and then again in August.

I have told more than 30 friends and relatives… the train is the gain! Why lose with a plane when you can Gain with the Train.

(Feel free to nick that for your adverts and marketing.) 😉

Thank you again for wonderful trips. 🙏🏼

See you next time, -J ...

It was a lot of fun to ride the heartland flyer. The train was a very stressful free and relaxing way to travel. However, the YouTube videos that we watched beforehand were absolutely wrong. They had an observation car on YouTube with really cool windows. That wasn't on this train and we heard one of the workers tell a man that observation car is for tourism trains and that the heartland flyer is a commuter. But YouTube shows there to be one. Our trip from okc to ft. Worth was pleasant. However, on the trip back, they locked all but two cars and everyone was stuffed in tight. There were empty cars. The woman that worked there would lock herself in one of the empty cars until just before we got to a stop then she'd come out. It was pretty bad. The ride to Ft. Worth is why I'm keeping stars at all. Oh and the guy at snack bar on the train to okc (i needed a drink to survive that sardine packed ride). The train station in ft worth is not the best area. I could definitely see there being...