Baton Rouge residents won't be left out of the Amtrak “Mardi Gras Service” between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.
Starting Aug. 18, they can hop on a bus in the Capital City to connect seamlessly with the train departing from Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans.
On Monday, August 18, the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will begin rolling along the Gulf Coast.
The route between New Orleans, South Mississippi and Mobile returns for the first time since Hurricane Katrina wiped out passenger rail service 20 years ago.
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R) joined WLOX News This Week to talk about the much-anticipated return.
The new Gulf Coast rain route will also have some New Orleans-inspired sandwiches and snacks.
Amtrak has unveiled the menu for its revived Mardi Gras Service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. The route is scheduled to welcome passengers Aug. 18.
Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras Service rolls Aug. 18 between New Orleans and Mobile, bringing passengers to the attractions, shops and restaurants in cities along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The return of passenger trains also brings an opportunity for South Mississippi residents to experience riding the rails to adventure in New Orleans and Mobile.
Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will begin on Monday, August 18, and Coast businesses are preparing for a potential boom in foot traffic.
The passenger rail service will run from Mobile to New Orleans with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula.
Amtrak is having a successful summer, with its newest service, the Borealis, hitting record milestones that have exceeded all expectations since its launch in 2024. With its $6 billion investment boost in 2025, the rail service continues to bring new experiences, major upgrades to stations, speedier trains, special discounts, and, of course, more routes. One of the most awaited Amtrak lines this year is the return of a Gulf Coast route in August, after 20 years. It ceased operations after the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Amtrak announced on June 30 that its Mardi Gras service between New Orleans, Louisiana. and Mobile, Alabama, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi will resume on August 18. The twice-daily service will provide employment opportunities initially for seven BLET engineers.
Amtrak announced on July 1 that its Mardi Gras service route from Mobile to New Orleans will operate twice daily, beginning August 18.
The trip from Mobile to New Orleans will take approximately four hours, according to Amtrak.
Trains will depart Mobile at 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There will be short stops at Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay Saint Louis. The morning train will arrive in New Orleans before noon, allowing travelers to catch afternoon Saints games and return on the departing train, which will leave around 5 p.m.
A daily train connecting New Orleans and Baton Rouge is at least two to four years away, says John Spain, vice chair of the Southern Rail Commission.
The big picture: The tentative plan includes stops at Gonzales, LaPlace, two Baton Rouge locations, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, the Southern Rail Commission says.