All Aboard Amtrak’s Newest Southern Route!
Amtrak's exciting new "Mardi Gras Service" just launched across the Gulf Coast, already selling out seats and creating quite the buzz. Here's what you need to know about this brand new route, plus an update on the bigger picture for trains in the South. Image: Amtrak
There’s been a pique in demand for passenger train travel over the last few years, and the Southeastern U.S. is getting more routes. Amtrak’s exciting new “Mardi Gras Service” route just launched across the Gulf Coast, stretching between Mobile and New Orleans with four stops in between. Here’s the scoop, including an update on future train connectivity through the Southeast.
A Scenic Return to the Coast
Amtrak is reviving passenger rail service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the first time in nearly two decades.
The route kicked off August 18, 2025, and the brand-new Mardi Gras Service will operate twice daily between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, offering both convenience and a slice of regional heritage on the rails. The route stops at four coastal Mississippi towns — Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay Saint Louis — and takes about four hours total.
Nestled along the Gulf, this six-stop route offers not just rapid transit but lots of scenic charm. Travelers can now enjoy both early‐morning departures and comfortable evening returns between two storied destinations. Amtrak hopes to become a go-to option for those traveling for football games, holiday trips, and next year’s legendary Mardi Gras festivals.
Accessible & Affordable Travel
Train travel is trending for its ease, comfort, and views, but it’s also an excellent option for the cost. With adult coach fares starting at just $15 one-way, Amtrak is prioritizing budget-friendly travel, and it’s showing in the route’s already-sold-out numbers for the first week of service.
The service includes discounts for children (ages 2 to 12), students, seniors, veterans, military personnel, small groups, large groups, and more. Train travel is an accessible, hassle-free, and just plain fun option for diverse travelers — families, history buffs, holidaymakers, and festivalgoers alike.
Why Now, and Why It Matters
This corridor’s revival could not be more timely. For nearly 20 years, reliable, comfortable, and environment-friendly train travel was out of reach for Gulf Coast residents and visitors. Reinstating the train option re-weaves communities, supports local tourism, and broadens mobility options outside the car-dependent norm.
Amtrak President Roger Harris emphasized how this service reconnects people and places: “We encourage customers to get their tickets now … and have the first opportunity to travel by train on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in nearly 20 years.”
A Teaser of Expansion: What’s Next?
This launch isn’t just about one route; it’s a small yet significant signal of a broader vision: restoring and expanding intercity rail nationwide. A few years ago, we wrote about Amtrak’s sweeping Connects US vision to bolster rail services throughout the Southeast.
Released in 2021, the vision centers on expanding service to over 160 new communities and adding over 30 new corridors, with an estimated 20 million additional passengers annually by 2035, and a capital investment need of about $75 billion. They want to bring train service to places that either lost it decades ago or never had it, and to areas that have grown like crazy but still rely on planes or cars.
This plan stirred up so much excitement, but it’s a slow-going process.
Bold Infrastructure and Economic Goals
Connects US is Amtrak’s big dream board and blueprint for passenger rail over the next 15 years, so we hope to see more corridors open gradually. The plan’s success hinges on federal commitment, and some of that infrastructure has arrived.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) recently allotted $66 billion for intercity rail, and $22 billion of that went straight to Amtrak. That money is what’s making new things, like the Mardi Gras Service, actually happen.
These IIJA funds are the most significant capital infusion in Amtrak’s history and signal bipartisan excitement. However, implementation of new, improved, and expanded lines still requires planning, state partnerships, and long-term funding mechanisms such as trust funds to sustain momentum beyond IIJA’s five-year horizon.
On the Ground: Progress and Next Steps
To summarize the state of these bold plans: many things have to happen for Amtrak to scale Connects US. They need financial and political state commitments for operations and infrastructure. They need to streamline access to freight-owned tracks for better capacity and scheduling on shared corridors.
They also need more funding and to coordinate a bevy of stakeholders — from the Federal Railroad Administration to host railroads, state agencies, and communities — under complex regulatory and logistical frameworks.
So many people are excited about train travel, and Amtrak’s new route successes show it. But there’s so much that goes into opening new corridors. This is no simple task, but it’s one Amtrak knows is worth fighting for. We hope to update this article again in a year or two with more announcements, but for now, book your Mardi Gras Service tickets!
Whether you’re going for a weekend or dinner, it’s the perfect way to traverse the Gulf Coast.
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Zoe Yarborough
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.