Gulf Coast Rail is back on track, and stronger than ever

Passenger rail is back on the Gulf Coast! Amtrak Mardi Gras Service launched bright and early on Monday, August 18, connecting the people of the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coast by rail for the first time since Hurricane Katrina devastated the coast in 2005. On the Saturday before service opened to the public, Transportation for America staff, including Senior Policy Advisor John Robert Smith, joined elected officials and leaders of this years-long effort to celebrate the return of service.

A celebration 20 years in the making

If you want to know what this train means to the Gulf Coast, just look at the people who showed up. At every stop, people poured onto the platforms, waving, dancing, and cheering as the Mardi Gras pulled in. There were brass bands in New Orleans, cheerleaders and families in full Mardi Gras regalia in Mississippi, and entire communities lining up just to celebrate the return of passenger rail service, the first since Hurricane Katrina.

In New Orleans, Saturday began with a program featuring Amtrak President Roger Harris, Walt Leger, President & CEO of New Orleans & Company, Billy Nungesser, Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor, and several other local elected officials. A lively second line parade led us out to the train—proof that nothing says “welcome back” on the Gulf Coast like Mardi Gras music and a dancing crowd.

That sense of pride and possibility carried all down the line. In the Mississippi stops of Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, grandparents told us stories about riding the train as kids—and how thrilled they were that their grandkids would now get to share the same experience. Folks talked about how easy it will be to visit family, head to the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, or bring more visitors to their festivals and casinos. The energy was contagious, and the Coast made sure to show off exactly why the train is called the Mardi Gras.

By the time the train rolled under the convention center in Mobile at the end of the line, the celebration had crescendoed. We were greeted by SRC Commissioner David Clark, Alabama Representative Shomari Figures, Washington Representative Rick Larsen, Mobile, AL Mayor Sandy Stimpson, and others, all underscoring the economic and cultural significance of the service. It wasn’t just a ribbon-cutting; it was a reminder of how long people have been waiting for the train to run again.

The people who made it happen

Amid all the confetti, brass bands, and second lines, one thing was clear: this train wouldn’t be here without years of persistence from a core group of champions. The Southern Rail Commission, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, along with Transportation for America, led by John Robert Smith and at least 15 other T4America staffers over the years, refused to let the dream of Gulf Coast rail fade away.

“We couldn’t have done it without state, local, and federal officials—and ultimately, a realization that this was good for taxpayers and good for the economy.” – Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker

That realization didn’t come easily. Over the past two decades, the effort to restore passenger rail on the Gulf Coast has had its fair share of low points and near misses. But the coalition never quit. They pushed through inspections, feasibility studies, endless negotiations with intransigent freight railroads and others, and the complexities of federal rail policy. And along the way, they helped create entirely new federal funding programs that made this moment possible not just here, but for rail projects across the country.

On T4America’s John Robert Smith, “He is a driving force of surface transportation across the country.” Walt Leger III, President & CEO of New Orleans & Company

Many of the folks riding the inaugural train had also been aboard the 2016 inspection train, when leaders toured the Gulf Coast to build support for restoration. That trip was full of hope, but it also underscored just how far away this day still was. Riding the Mardi Gras nearly a decade later brought everything full circle and proved what’s possible with the right coalition.

What’s next for the Mardi Gras—and for passenger rail

Unlike before Katrina, when trains only came twice a week and often in the middle of the night, the Mardi Gras now offers two daily round-trip trains. That’s a huge improvement and a sign that this time, passenger rail will provide consistent service to the people of the Gulf Coast.

Of course, the work isn’t done. The Mardi Gras is off to a strong start, but success now depends on the trains being dependable and getting folks to ride. The federal government and states have committed kick-off operating support; after that, the train’s future will hinge on ridership

That means two things. First, the train has to run on time. Nothing will sink excitement faster than delays. Second, Amtrak and local leaders need to get the word out. For a lot of younger people, this will be their first time riding a passenger train. Make it a good experience, and you don’t just sell a ticket, you can create a customer for life.

But the Mardi Gras service is about more than one train line. It’s also a signal of what’s possible. The countless victories along the way to restore this service also laid the groundwork for expanding passenger rail across the country, including the I-20 corridor in the South, connections across the Mountain West, and many more routes that will provide transportation options and bring it closer to what it was 150 years ago. All of these expansions will be possible by T4America’s work with federal champions to create and fund new federal rail programs over the last 13 years.

That’s the bigger story here. The Gulf Coast, alongside our team at T4America, fought for years to bring back their train and won. Now it’s time to take that same momentum and push for a truly national passenger rail network.