Amtrak made its way through Guthrie Friday morning as part of their inspection trip from Oklahoma City to Kansas City in hopes of expanding public transportation opportunities for residents now and in the future.
The Guthrie Chamber of Commerce and several citizens made their way to the railroad tracks and the Santa Fe Depot on W. Oklahoma to see the train for themselves.
The train arrived shortly before 8:30 a.m. and dropped off some of the passengers, who took a ride from Oklahoma City, and picked up Guthrie City Manager Leroy Alsup, Vice Mayor Ed Wood and Councilman Brian Bothroyd.
From Guthrie, the Amtrak made stops in Perry and Ponca City, five stops in Kansas and ending at the Union Station in Kansas City.
The inspection train is a preliminary step in potentially restoring a significant gap for passenger rail service that has existed since Amtrak eliminated the line between Oklahoma City and Kansas City in 1979 due to budget cuts.
From Oklahoma City south to Fort Worth daily passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak thanks to a joint operating agreement with the Oklahoma and Texas Departments of Transportation.
The cost of restoring service has not been formalized, but according to sources, the initial trip will give state and local officials, Amtrak and BNSF Railway a basis for continuing the discussion.
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