Amtrak will soon launch new, twice-daily passenger train service between New Orleans and Mobile, restoring a long-awaited Gulf Coast connection after nearly two decades.
Starting this summer, the state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer morning and evening departures from both cities, also connecting Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula to the broader Amtrak network.
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“Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is a natural choice for the name of the new trains that will reflect the region’s distinctive culture,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “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.”
Passengers will enjoy convenient access to major Amtrak routes, including same-day transfers to the City of New Orleans line to Chicago and next-day connections in New Orleans to the Crescent and Sunset Limited lines.
“With the launch of the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, we are not just restoring a transportation link; we are celebrating the vibrant culture and community spirit of the Gulf Coast,” said Joe Donahue, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
Local leaders cheered the project’s potential economic impact.
“Mobile and New Orleans have always shared a rich cultural heritage, and renewing Amtrak service will strengthen our ties to the Crescent City and the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “It will be an asset to our citizens and another enhancement to Mobile’s growing downtown waterfront.”
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Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross noted the benefit of the service for the state of Mississippi and the region as a whole.
“This service will open the Mississippi Gulf Coast to a whole new tourism market, making already wonderful places even better by supporting local businesses, attracting more visitors, and strengthening the entire southern region’s infrastructure and economy.”
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.) emphasized Mobile’s Mardi Gras heritage, calling the service “a meaningful investment in our local economy, our tourism industry, and our shared cultural heritage.”
Amenities include wide reclining seats, ample legroom, generous carry-on baggage allowances, space for golf bags, and the ability to bring pets under certain conditions.
Fares and schedules will be announced soon at Amtrak.com.
