Passenger train service has officially returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast after nearly two decades without.
Amtrak’s highly anticipated “Mardi Gras Service” departed with members of the public for the first time Monday morning, traveling from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans with stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis.
The service is expected to bring a boost in tourism to all three states but especially in Mississippi, according to Southern District Transportation Commissioner Charles Busby.
“Visitors from all over the country and even abroad will [now] be able to experience the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast from the comfort of a passenger train, a mode of travel not seen in our region in 20 years,” Busby stated in a news release. “I’m thrilled to see its return and with tickets for the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service now on sale, we look forward to sharing our coastal hospitality with passengers.”
Bringing Amtrak to the region where Hurricane Katrina destroyed passenger rail capability in August 2005 was a joint effort between federal, state, and local officials. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), among others who helped attain state and federal funding for the service, got an early ride on Saturday with celebrations at each stop.
“The experience was stunning and rewarding,” Wicker noted. “Hundreds of Mississippians packed the route to welcome the train, excited to see passenger rail return to the coast. This long-awaited service is poised to boost job creation, facilitate tourism and public safety, and drive investment in our cities and towns.”
The Amtrak trains running twice daily – at 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for lines departing from Mobile and at 7:35 a.m. and 5:31 p.m. for lines departing from New Orleans – offer coach and business class in addition to café service with a menu featuring locally sourced items. With 2-2 seating and reclining capability of each chair, comfort was a priority when designing the lines, according to Amtrak officials. Carry-on baggage is allowed, with golfers needing to reserve space for the clubs in advance. Pets can also hop on if weighing under 20 pounds and in a carrier.
Tickets between New Orleans and Mobile are $15 each way and less for shorter distances.
Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service is expected to draw roughly 65,000 travelers per year. Once travelers get to New Orleans, they can take advantage of connection lines to Jackson, Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, and Los Angeles, among other destinations. The full schedule and more information can be found here.
