The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded $1.4 billion for railroad improvements, a huge expansion of a key funding program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Funded projects will help make passenger and freight service more efficient.
Passenger rail advocates visit Meridian to view success
Advocates for passenger rail service and railroad officials gathered in Meridian on Saturday as the Rail Passengers Association held RailNation: Meridian, its 2023 fall advocacy symposium in the Queen City.
The RPA is an organization that advocates for expanded and improved passenger rail service, increasing railroad safety, high speed rail and greater transportation connectivity throughout the United States.
Final grant clears the way to restore Gulf Coast passenger rail service
Railroad leaders flock to Meridian for national conference
Passenger rail advocates from across the nation will head to the Queen City in October for RailNation: Meridian hosted by Rail Passengers Association.
The RPA is a national organization that advocates for more trains for more people in more places across the US.
During RailNation: Meridian, which is set for Oct. 6-8, Rail Passengers staff will be joined by experts in the field, Amtrak leadership, the Southern Rail Commission, regional mayors and keynote speaker Federal Railroad Administration’s Amit Bose. Members, locals, and rail enthusiasts are all encouraged to attend to learn more about passenger rail expansion and how they can strategically support extensions and new service where they live, work and play.
Amtrak to Restore Service Along This Southern Route for the First Time in Nearly 20 Years
Amtrak will restore service to the Gulf Coast for the first time in almost 20 years as part of a nearly $200 million grant the rail company received from the federal government.
The plan, called the Gulf Coast Corridor Improvement Project, will aim to re-establish twice-daily service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans next year, according to Amtrak. The project will redevelop part of the rail line that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The project, which is run in cooperation with the Southern Rail Commission, will be completed with money from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program with additional funding from several stakeholders, including Amtrak and the states of Mississippi and Louisiana.
Mississippi awarded $230M for reestablishment of passenger, freight rail service
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has designated two awards totaling over $230 million in funding for the restoration of passenger rail service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and reestablishment of the Gloster Southern Railroad.
The first award will provide an estimated $178,435,333 for a passenger train route from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans, La., which is expected to have four stops in Mississippi.
Amtrak passenger service to the Gulf Coast makes a major push forward
"As a kid, I used to ride the Hummingbird."
There was a time when taking the train in Mobile was an exciting adventure.
Lifetime Mobilian Noel Nelson remembers.
"We would take a bus down in kindergarten and first grade to a park down there in Biloxi, and we'd ride the Hummingbird back to Mobile."
WICKER PRAISES $230.4 MILLION AWARD TO EXPAND RAIL SERVICE IN MISSISSIPPI
Gulf Coast Passenger Rail To Receive $178.4 Million To Restore Route
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today praised the award of $178,435,333 from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to provide crucial funding to restore passenger rail service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A second award of $52,000,000 will help reestablish freight rail service along a 35-mile segment of the Gloster Southern Railroad. The two awards totaling $230,435,333 were made possible by yearly appropriations and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Wicker helped negotiate as the lead Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee.
"I am thrilled to announce this $178.4 million federal grant to restore passenger rail service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is a significant milestone, representing years of dedicated efforts to reconnect our communities after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Restoring passenger rail service will create jobs, improve quality of life, and offer a convenient travel option for tourists, contributing to our region's economic growth and vitality. I appreciate the work of all who have worked tirelessly to bring this project to this point. I look forward to getting this plan across the finish line in the near future with the support of our state and local officials,” Wicker said.
Amtrak's New Orleans-to-Mobile service to launch in 2024
Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) last week provided an update on plans to begin passenger-rail service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Amtrak is running familiarization trips for the service, which is anticipated to begin in 2024. However, numerous steps have yet to be completed before an exact launch date can be announced, Amtrak and SRC officials said in a press release.
Amtrak service likely will not return to Mobile until well into 2024, officials say
At one time, Amtrak hoped to begin service along the Gulf Coast by the end of this year. Now, it appears that will not happen until well into 2024.
The Southern Rail Commission, which is sponsoring the Amtrak line, continues to work on funding and securing agreements to build a platform and overlay track in Mobile.
“This has been a long time coming,” Arun Rao, Amtrak’s director of network development, said at a Friday meeting of the Southern Rail Commission in Point Clear.
He added that the train company is “champing at the bit” to start service “as soon as possible.”