Amtrak will soon run along the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Agreements have been reached for twice-daily intercity train service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Starting this summer at an unspecified date, the new Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer morning and evening departures from both cities. The trip will feature stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula along the way.
Named after the popular “bead-throwing” event, which has deep roots in New Orleans, Mobile, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the train will serve to celebrate the area’s culture.
“Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is a natural choice for the name of the new trains that will reflect the region’s distinctive culture,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said. “Travel should be about more than just getting somewhere. Our goal is to have some of that festive Mardi Gras feeling on every trip, sharing the culture of the Gulf Coast region while connecting with the rest of the Amtrak network.”
According to a news release, Amtrak Mardi Gras Service guests can also make next-day connections in New Orleans to Amtrak Crescent trains to and from New York via Atlanta, and Amtrak Sunset Limited trains to and from Los Angeles via Tucson, Arizona, along with San Antonio and Houston, Texas.
The highly anticipated return of Amtrak will mark the first time the rail service has operated along the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005. Though elected leaders in Mobile initially threw a wrench in plans to bring the train route back to the region in late June 2024, the city council ultimately had a change of heart after returning to the negotiating table.
Last August, the Mobile City Council unanimously voted to fund passenger services for the next three years. Officials broke ground at a construction site next to the Mobile Convention Center and Cooper Riverside Park in late October. Now, the rail service is slated to come to fruition in the next couple of months.
“Though the Mississippi Gulf Coast is heavily influenced by neighboring Mobile and New Orleans, each of Mississippi’s coastal cities has its own unique charm and traditions, especially when it comes to our two great passions – festivities and food,” Mississippi Southern District Transportation Commissioner Charles Busby said.
“I look forward to sharing the best of our region’s culture and its breathtaking views with Amtrak passengers. Of course, as Transportation Commissioner, I’m excited about introducing another mode of transit to our community and the impact this infrastructure enhancement will have on our local economy.”
Ticket information and schedules will be made available when a service start date is announced within the next few weeks. Amtrak further announced that guests will now have access to wide reclining seats, ample legroom, no middle seats, and “generous” carry-on baggage allowances. With space reserved in advance, golf bags will be accepted, and pets will be welcomed within appropriate weights with carriers.
