Amtrak Service To Start Twice Daily This Summer

Agreements have been reached for new twice-daily Amtrak train service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Amtrak announced. Starting this summer, the new state-sponsored service, called “Amtrak Mardi Gras Service,” will offer morning and evening departures from both cities. In addition, Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula will also have same-day connections in both directions to New Orleans, which is connected to Chicago via Memphis. Amtrak Mardi Gras Service guests may also make next-day connections in New Orleans to Amtrak Crescent trains to and from New York via Atlanta and Amtrak Sunset Limited trains to and from Los Angeles via Tucson, San Antonio and Houston. Amtrak will operate this service under contracts with the States of Louisiana and Mississippi, financial support by the City of Mobile and the backing of the Southern Rail Commission. Including this new service, Amtrak will operate 31 state-sponsored routes for 23 state and agency partners in 20 states. The company says such services are its fastest-growing segment and that it has active efforts in many more states to expand the Amtrak network in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration.