“I am never sure of time or place on a Railroad,” Charles Dickens wrote in 1856 as rail travel was beginning to change our concept of distance. I recognized the feeling when I recently rode Amtrak’s new twice-daily Mardi Gras Service running along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.
Amtrak touts strong demand for Coast passenger rail service
Amtrak says more than 46,000 customers have ridden its Mardi Gras Service trains on the twice-daily round trips across Coastal Mississippi between New Orleans and Mobile since its official start on August 18.
”We are well on-track to double the original estimate,” said Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony “Tony” Coscia in a statement. “Demand is very high across our network.”
Exploring Bayous and Beaches on the Reborn Gulf Train
“I am never sure of time or place on a Railroad,” Charles Dickens wrote in 1856 as rail travel was beginning to change our concept of distance. I recognized the feeling when I recently rode Amtrak’s new twice-daily Mardi Gras Service running along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.
How a trip on the new Amtrak train offers a new perspective of America’s Deep South
Dozens of birds fly over the still bayou as the train rushes past, leaving nothing but blue skies over the marshland. In no time this serene scene is replaced by bustling cityscape as I arrive in New Orleans.
It’s the first time since Hurricane Katrina devastated the region 20 years ago that a passenger train is running along the Gulf Coast from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans in Louisiana.
Riders love the new Mardi Gras train and give it highest rating of any Amtrak line
The Amtrak train passed through downtown Bay St. Louis Friday morning just as the Southern Rail Commission met to provide updates on the new Mardi Gras line and honor Kay Kell for her part in restoring Amtrak passenger service. The meeting drew Amtrak board members from as far as Idaho to deliver the news about the impressive start to Amtrak’s first expansion of this kind of train service in 20 years.
Amtrak: Mardi Gras route tops preliminary ridership estimates
Amtrak's Gulf Coast route doubles ridership expectations
Amtrak's new Gulf Coast service is on track to double the company's passenger estimates, officials say.
Why it matters: It's good news for the train route trying to make a comeback after 20 years.
The big picture: More than 46,000 people have ridden the Mardi Gras service trains since Aug. 18, Amtrak officials confirmed last week.
Amtrak service from Mobile to New Orleans surges past 46,000 riders, shattering expectations
Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service is surging far beyond expectations, with more than 46,000 riders since its Aug. 18 launch and trains filling up along the Gulf Coast.
In its first 108 days, the national passenger rail operator says the line is averaging more than 420 customers a day on round trips between Mobile and New Orleans, a pace that easily outstrips projections for the route’s first year.
Amtrak Marks a Year of Growth in 2025
Amtrak has reported its Fiscal Year 2025 results, highlighting continued growth in ridership, revenue and network development across the United States.
The company recorded its highest number of annual passenger journeys and operating revenue to date, reflecting sustained interest in rail travel and progress in modernising services.
One Of Amtrak's Latest Train Routes Offers A Wildly Popular Getaway Along The Gulf Coast
With a name like "Amtrak Mardi Gras Service," you can assume this new passenger line is a good time, or at least the way to get to one. Amtrak started the service on August 18, 2025 as a way to connect New Orleans — the nerve center of Mardi Gras celebrations — to less-famous cities along the Gulf Coast. At first glance, this new route is like any other Amtrak ride: You board a train in Mobile, Alabama, and make your way to the Crescent City, or vice versa. You probably won't knock back "hurricane" cocktails while onboard, and you won't have to do anything scandalous to earn beaded necklaces. You can enjoy cafe service and free WiFi, the same you'd find on most Amtrak trains.