The Amtrak’s Mardi Gras train along the Gulf Coast has had a better first year than expected, passing the first-year projections months ago and finishing the year with nearly four times the anticipated ridership.

According to an article from ALdotcom, the train — which is decorated with Mardi Gras decorations and festivities — saw 150,000 riders in the first year after being projected at 38,000 and generated more than $5 million in revenue.

“What can you say?” said Todd Stennis, director of government affairs with Amtrak, before boarding the service in downtown Mobile. “It’s exciting. Everyone who uses the service is excited about it. It speaks volumes for the Gulf Coast communities from Mobile to New Orleans and their support for this service and for those who ride it.”

While the popularity of the train has been huge, the facilities for boarding — especially on the Mobile side — are noticeably lacking. Nestled in the downtown of the Port City, the stop is uncovered, with the exception of a pop-up tent that causes problems both with the rain and heat for riders.

There are talks of a permanent facility being built, discussions that have likely been accelerated by the popularity of the trip from Mobile to New Orleans, but at this point, no plans have been announced.

“We get that feedback from customers that they want to see something more permanent like they see from the other stops,” said Ashley Rains, a spokesperson for Visit Mobile. “The conversations are always open. Everyone wants this to be as comfortable as possible…We continue to hear of people coming in for day trips and finding the train platform serving as a gateway into our downtown entertainment district.”