AMTRAK introduced a twice-daily passenger service along the Mississippi Gulf coast between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, on August 18.
Two return journeys per day are being provided with intermediate stops at Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport Biloxi and Pascagoula where new stations have been built. Trains have coach and business class seating as well as a café car serving locally-sourced items.
The Mardi Gras service takes 3h 43min to complete the 233km trip. However, Amtrak warns passengers that trains may be delayed due to several infrastructure projects currently underway, as well as drawbridges which need be raised to allow boats to pass.
Amtrak is operating the service under contracts with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, with financial support from the City of Mobile, and with the backing of the Southern Rail Commission (SRC). Grants from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) support operating costs and are funding improvements for freight and Amtrak trains.
The previous tri-weekly service, the coast-to-coast Sunset Limited, was withdrawn east of New Orleans in 2005 following the damage caused to infrastructure by Hurricane Katrina and was never reintroduced even when the repairs were completed.
