MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak announced July 1 the return of passenger rail service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, with the launch of the new twice-daily Mardi Gras Service beginning August 18. This marks the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that trains will run along this Gulf Coast route.
The service will connect Mobile with New Orleans and key Mississippi Gulf Coast cities including Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay Saint Louis. The roughly four-hour journey offers morning and evening departures in both directions, with coach fares starting at $15 for the full route and discounts available for children, seniors, students, military personnel, and groups.
Amtrak President Roger Harris described the new service as a comfortable, scenic travel option that revives a vital transportation link and Gulf Coast culture. The route’s name reflects the region’s rich Mardi Gras heritage, celebrated in both Mobile and New Orleans.
Passenger rail along the Gulf Coast had been suspended after Katrina devastated the area in 2005, damaging infrastructure and halting the famed Sunset Limited route east of New Orleans. Before the hurricane, the Sunset Limited connected Los Angeles to Orlando, Florida, but since then has been limited to the segment between Los Angeles and New Orleans.
The restored Gulf Coast service will also connect travelers to Amtrak’s broader national network via New Orleans, linking to long-distance routes such as the City of New Orleans to Chicago, the Crescent to New York, and the Sunset Limited to Los Angeles.
Local officials from Mobile, Mississippi, and Louisiana praised the announcement as a milestone for regional connectivity, economic development, and tourism. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson called the return of passenger rail “an asset to our citizens and another enhancement to Mobile’s growing downtown waterfront.”
The trains will feature Coach and Business Class seating, onboard café service with locally sourced food, free Wi-Fi, and generous baggage allowances, including accommodations for golf bags and pets.
As the Gulf Coast rebuilds its transportation infrastructure, the Mardi Gras Service offers residents and visitors a new way to experience the region’s vibrant culture and scenic coastline by rail for the first time in nearly two decades.