‘Mardi Gras‘ Follows ‘Second Battle of Mobile’

Easter is over, but Mardi Gras is coming to New Orleans, Mobile, and four towns between them on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This “Mardi Gras” will be an Amtrak train, and it will run twice a day in both directions, all year round!

Amtrak announced the name for its new Gulf Coast service on April 24. It’s a fitting name for the new trains, symbolizing the parties held during the winter Carnival season in New Orleans (the biggest festival), Mobile (since 1703) and Biloxi (since 1720), all places the trains will serve.

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Amtrak route to connect New Orleans and Mobile starting this summer

Amtrak has officially named its Gulf Coast service—the Amtrak Mardi Gras—and confirmed it will launch this summer.

The route will connect New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, with twice-daily trains and four stops across Mississippi.

“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.”

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Amtrak Unveils Mardi Gras Service Connecting Mobile to New Orleans, How the Gulf Coast Revival Is Igniting New Passenger Rail Tourism After Hurricane Katrina

Amtrak unveils Mardi Gras Service connecting Mobile to New Orleans, a bold step that signifies how the Gulf Coast revival is igniting new passenger rail tourism after Hurricane Katrina. This announcement — that Amtrak unveils Mardi Gras Service connecting Mobile to New Orleans — shines as a symbol of hope, demonstrating how the Gulf Coast revival is igniting new passenger rail tourism after Hurricane Katrina, energizing communities once separated by storm-broken tracks.

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'Mardi Gras' rail service resumes this summer between New Orleans and Mobile; no timetable for Baton Rouge

Amtrak said Thursday it will restore service this summer between New Orleans and Mobile on a route called "Mardi Gras Service."

The twice-daily runs will connect two cities with long histories of Mardi Gras celebrations. The trains will also stop in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula in Mississippi.

Separately, the Southern Rail Commission hopes to develop service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. No timetable has been set for when it might resume. The last trains connecting the two cities rolled in 1969.

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EXCITING NEWS FROM AMTRAK

On April 24, 2024, Amtrak issued a press release naming the new Amtrak Mardi Gras Service. See Amtrak's press release here. 

Knox Ross, Chair of the Southern Rail Commission, issued the following statement: 

"It's incredibly exciting to announce the name for this new rail service that will have such a positive impact in our three states. This service will open up the 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.

The Southern Rail Commission couldn't be prouder to see this service come to reality, and we can't wait to ride the train with y'all."

More information about the new service can be found here

SRC: Expect visible progress on I-20 Amtrak route in the next 2-3 years

Progress continues on the train route that will follow the I-20 corridor between Texas and Mississippi, giving people an alternate way to travel.

The Federal Railroad Administration has announced a grant to study a long-distance train ride impacting millions of people traveling between Dallas-Fort Worth and Meridian, Miss. along the I-20 corridor that passes right through the ArkLaTex. Planned stops include Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe.

Area residents think it’s better to have different ways to travel.

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The Breakdown: Amtrak full steam ahead on three rail lines in Louisiana

In your Breakdown: We could be just months away from connecting New Orleans to Mobile by train.

Amtrak is chugging along on three total routes in Louisiana. Company representatives gave an update to the City Council Transportation Committee Tuesday.

They say that starting this summer, there will be morning and evening trains daily between New Orleans and Mobile, with stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and connections to other parts of the country.

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Purchase an Amtrak ticket in April? Rail chairman says it’s possible

After years of work and worry, Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to Amtrak returning to the Gulf Coast..

"I don't really know how it will actually be when I'm standing in Mobile to get on the train to go to New Orleans for the inaugural," he tells NBC 15 News. "And when the first ticket is sold, I think that will be the most exciting thing, when the train goes live on the Amtrak system and the first ticket is sold. That will be a lot of fun to see that. And I expect that in April. I really do. I think sometime in April we'll have that."

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