Hello Reader,

Welcome back! How is your week going?

Heartland Flyer Receives $3.5M Lifeline

Good news, the beloved Amtrak Heartland Flyer, which connects Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, has secured a $3.5 million federal grant to keep its route running for at least another year.

This funding acts as a temporary rescue while transportation officials explore long-term solutions, including the possibility of extending the route further north to Kansas.

What Travelers Should Know

• No Immediate Changes: Schedules and fares stay unchanged for now.
• Book with Confidence: The funding guarantees service until mid-2026, so you can plan your trips in advance.
• Advocacy Opportunities: Riders who want to support the route’s expansion can follow groups like the Rail Passengers Association.

For the latest schedule, stops, and booking tips, check out my updated Heartland Flyer guide.

Source: Fort Worth Report​

Limited-Time Amtrak Bonus: 40,000 Points!

If you’re thinking about an Amtrak Guest Rewards® credit card, now’s the ideal moment! Amtrak has just reintroduced its popular 40,000-point bonus offer—enough for a free round-trip ticket or upgrades on select routes.

This deal won’t last forever; the offer ends July 30, 2025, so if you’re planning summer or fall travel, act quickly! Learn more here.

Travels with Kev Turned 9!

This week, on July 13th, marks the 9th anniversary of Travels with Kev!

This site has gone through significant growth and change since then. I have as well, and I hope you have too!

It began as a personal blog and developed into a helpful resource for Amtrak travelers. It has been a great experience assisting travelers and sharing my knowledge and expertise.

If there's something you'd like me to cover, please let me know, and I'll do my best to accommodate your request.

You can check out the first blog post or see what Travels with Kev looks like in 2018!

What has Kev been up to?

I thought I was going to be the bus captain for the American Theatre Organ Society convention in Milwaukee this week, but I am not.

I will be there next week. For some reason, I got my weeks mixed up, but I'm glad I confused myself this week and got an extra week instead of missing it and letting people down.

There will be a lot of traveling, but by bus, which can still be fun.

Looking at the Markers

Thank you for reading this newsletter and reaching out—it means a great deal to me!

Thanks to Michael H. for hitting the green button at the bottom of the page.

If you enjoy my work, consider supporting this free resource.​
You can visit my support page to learn how to help keep this train rolling, or click the green button at the bottom of this newsletter to pitch in.

Your support makes everything I do possible. Every little bit truly helps—and together, we’re inspiring more people to explore the world, one train trip at a time! 🚆✨

Until Next Week…

Happy planning and safe travels,
Kev Monteith