One year ago, on August 18, 2025, passenger rail finally returned to the Gulf Coast. On its inaugural run, Amtrak Mardi Gras Service marked the culmination of hard work by the Southern Rail Commission, federal and state leaders across the region, and so many local community champions. As we celebrated one year of Amtrak Mardi Gras Service this week, I look back on the past year with much gratitude.

When this project was launched, initial projections estimated roughly 75,000 passengers during its first year. This number has more than exceeded any of our expectations, with almost 150,000 riders in the first year, and I look forward to this continued excitement for years to come.

While the statistics are thrilling, the true success of Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is measured in economic revitalization and human connection. From New Orleans to Mobile, regional passenger rail travel has intertwined these communities in ways unlike ever before.

Restoring this corridor required unwavering persistence, leadership, and investment. As we enter year two of operation, we will use this success as a blueprint for what is to come.

Thank you to our passengers, local leaders, and regional partners who fought to bring these tracks back to life. Let’s keep the South moving forward together. Y’all aboard!

Knox Ross
Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission