News Summary
Amtrak has announced the launch of its new Gulf Coast passenger service, the Mardi Gras Service, starting August 18. This route will connect New Orleans, LA, and Mobile, AL, with stops in several coastal cities. This marks the first daily passenger train service between these cities since 1996. Fares start at $15, and onboard amenities will include local food offerings. The new service is expected to boost local economies and tourism, with projections of around 68,000 annual passengers.
New Orleans – Amtrak has announced the launch of its Gulf Coast passenger service, named Mardi Gras Service, which will commence on August 18. The new route will connect passengers between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, with intermediate stops in the coastal cities of Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi.
This reopening of the service is significant as it marks the first daily passenger train line to operate between New Orleans and Mobile since the discontinuation of the Gulf Coast Limited in 1996. To celebrate this occasion, an invite-only inaugural train ride has been scheduled for August 16.
Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana met with Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose and Louisiana’s Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson during a train journey from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, emphasizing the local support for this service.
Fares for the Mardi Gras Service are designed to be affordable, starting at $15 for travel between New Orleans and Mobile, with even lower prices for those traveling to intermediate stops. The service will feature two daily departures from both cities, with one train operating each in the morning and afternoon.
Discounts will be available for a range of passengers, including children, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel, families, and groups of all sizes. The service will offer both coach and business-class seating, providing amenities such as reclining seats, free Wi-Fi, and no middle seats, ensuring a comfortable journey for all passengers.
Onboard amenities include a café that will serve local foods, featuring popular items such as Moon Pies, Hurricane cocktails, muffalettas, breakfast pastries, and sandwiches. This addition aims to enhance the travel experience while supporting regional cuisine.
The return of passenger rail service to this route is expected to play a significant role in reshaping local economies. Economic leaders like Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, have highlighted the potential for new business opportunities arising near train depots, further stimulating local commerce.
Amtrak’s projections suggest that approximately 68,000 passengers will utilize this new route annually, with travel time between New Orleans and Mobile estimated at around four hours. Additionally, passengers will have access to same-day connections to a variety of Amtrak trains heading to Chicago, alongside next-day connections for trains to/from New York and Los Angeles from New Orleans.
To encourage travel during the promotional period, Amtrak Guest Rewards members can earn triple points on trips taken through November 18, 2025. Tickets for the Mardi Gras Service are readily available for purchase through various channels, including Amtrak’s website, mobile app, at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, and by phone.
The implementation of this service had experienced delays due to construction activities in Mobile, pushing back the initially planned opening in June. Temporary platforms have now been set up at each stop, with plans to improve them to create longer and fully accessible platforms in the future.
Local tourism leaders are optimistic about the economic opportunities reinvigorated rail service will bring, enhancing travel and connectivity in the region and providing a boost to local tourism sectors.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- The New York Times
- Wikipedia: Amtrak
- NOLA
- Google Search: Amtrak Mardi Gras Service
- Amtrak Media
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Rail Travel
- WLOX
- Google News: Amtrak Mardi Gras Service
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NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER The NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewOrleans.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Essence Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Orleans, Inc., plus leading businesses in energy, healthcare, and education that power the local economy such as Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Tulane University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREShreveport.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
