Agreements have been reached for new twice-daily Amtrak intercity train service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Starting this summer, the new state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer convenient morning and evening departures from both cities.
Both New Orleans and Mobile have a long history of Mardi Gras celebrations – as do the communities in Coastal Mississippi.
“Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is a natural choice for the name of the new trains that will reflect the region’s distinctive culture,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “Travel should be about more than just getting somewhere. Our goal is to have some of that festive Mardi Gras feeling on every trip, sharing the culture of the Gulf Coast region while connecting with the rest of the Amtrak network.”
“This summer, travelers seeking a more comfortable, scenic and productive choice than driving will have their first opportunity to ride Amtrak trains in almost 20 years,” Harris added.
In addition to travel between New Orleans and Mobile, the cities of Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula will also have same-day connections in both directions daily to the famed Amtrak City of New Orleans trains between New Orleans and Chicago via Memphis. Amtrak Mardi Gras Service guests can 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.
Fares and schedules will be available on Amtrak.com when a service start date is announced in a few weeks. Guests will enjoy direct access to exciting cities and towns on trains with wide reclining seats, ample legroom, no middle seats and generous carry-on baggage allowances. With space reserved in advance, golf bags will be accepted and pets will be welcomed within appropriate weights with carriers.
Amtrak will operate this service under contracts with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, financial support by the City of Mobile, and with the long-time backing of the SRC. Including this new service, Amtrak will operate 31 state-sponsored routes for 23 state and agency partners in 20 states.
Services such as these are the fastest growing Amtrak business segment, with active efforts in many more states to expand the Amtrak network in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration.
-via Press Release