After nearly two decades of anticipation, passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans is finally approaching the finish line.
Construction on a new Amtrak platform and layover track in downtown Mobile is underway, and officials are eyeing summer 2025 for the first trains to roll out.
This revival has been years in the making, overcoming legal battles, funding disputes, and infrastructure challenges.
But now, with contractors on-site and a federal spotlight on the project, the long-promised Gulf Coast Amtrak service is closer than ever.
Construction Signals Progress
Anyone passing through downtown Mobile might notice fencing around the future Amtrak station site.
This isn’t just a sign of progress—it’s the final piece of the puzzle before the twice-daily train service launches.
The new layover track is key to the operation, allowing trains to stop in Mobile without blocking the main rail line.
CSX, the freight operator responsible for building the track, has already started clearing and grading the area.
While no official start date has been announced, all stakeholders are working to launch service as soon as possible.
Mississippi’s Senator Leading the Charge
Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker has been the project’s biggest advocate in Congress, working with multiple U.S.
Transportation Secretaries to push the service forward.
He recently invited Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to Mississippi in June, when trains are expected to begin running again.
“The return of Amtrak services to the Gulf Coast has been almost a two-decade-long effort,” Wicker said, emphasizing how crucial the project is for the region’s continued recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
The Southern Rail Commission (SRC), which has also been instrumental in bringing the service back, says they’ll announce details like ticket prices and branding as soon as an official launch date is confirmed.
A Long Road to Revival
Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service ended in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina damaged rail lines and station infrastructure. Bringing it back has been anything but simple.
Freight operators CSX and Norfolk Southern initially fought the return of passenger service, citing concerns about rail congestion and port disruptions.
The Alabama State Port Authority also opposed the plan, fearing it would interfere with operations.
After years of legal battles, a 2022 agreement paved the way for Amtrak’s return.
The deal included millions in rail improvements to ensure freight and passenger traffic could coexist smoothly.
Funding the service also required collaboration between Mobile, the port, and the state of Alabama.
In August 2024, the Mobile City Council unanimously approved a three-year, $3.064 million subsidy to help support operations.
What’s Next for Passengers?
When service begins, Amtrak will connect Mobile to New Orleans with stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis.
The train will run twice daily, giving travelers a stress-free alternative to driving I-10.
While Amtrak has yet to announce ticket prices or an official start date, recent history suggests details will come just weeks before the first train departs.
When Amtrak launched a similar St. Paul-to-Chicago route in 2024, they announced service only 10 days before the first trip.
For now, all eyes are on Mobile’s train station construction, a visible sign that passenger rail is finally returning to the Gulf Coast. After nearly 20 years of waiting, the tracks are being laid for a new era of travel.
If you’d like to check out other news stories, hop over to our news corner.
