MOBILE, Ala. — The launch of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service between Mobile and New Orleans has been pushed back further, likely to the end of July or beginning of August.
WALA-TV reports that Southern Rail Commission chairman Knox Ross told the station that “construction issues” are responsible for the latest delays. “We know the train’s going to run,” Ross said. “It’s just a matter of getting to that point.” Ross had previously estimated the service would begin in June [see “Amtrak Gulf Coast trains …,” Trains News Wire, April 24, 2025].
The station says progress is visible at the station site in Mobile, where the pocket track for the train has been laid and work has been on the station platform. Ross previously told News Wire that unexpected issues with relocation of utilities at the station site had delayed work by about a month.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told the station the company is not yet ready to announce a start date or ticket prices, but would begin ticket sales at some point prior to the launch date: “Four to six weeks would be preferable, but we’ve done it in less.”
The years-long process of launching the service cleared what was considered its final major hurdle last August, when Mobile’s city council voted to help fund the train for three years and approved a lease for the station [see “Mobile, Ala., council votes to approve …,” News Wire, Aug. 6, 2024]. Amtrak and host railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern reached agreement in 2022 to allow the service [see “Amtrak, freight railroads say they have a deal ….,” News Wire, Nov. 22, 2022]; not long after that, Amtrak had said trains would begin running in 2023.
Just rode past the station site yesterday and the track isn’t exactly “laid”. About a third of the track panels have been put together in place and a huge pile of ballast has been delivered. But a lot of work left to do before a wheel will turn. August maybe, and hopefully we don’t get a hurricane in the meantime.
Looking forward to riding when/if the new train starts. But honestly won’t believe it till I see it.
Better late than never! It’s always great to see a new Amtrak route! Now, onward to Florida.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
The city of Pensacola, Florida the next big city east of Mobile on what’s was the extended Sunset route has recently expressed interest in having the train come there. But unfortunately a antii Amtrak MAGA republican Mobile city councilman member had a clause written saying in to the city agreement funding and lease agreement forbidding eastward expansion of the train.
The city of Pensacola, Florida the next big city east of Mobile on what’s was the extended Sunset route has recently expressed interest in having the train come there. But unfortunately a antii Amtrak MAGA republican Mobile city councilman member had a clause written in to the city funding and lease agreement forbidding eastward expansion of the train.
Once again we witness that putting a passenger train into service is much more difficult than taking a passenger train off the service.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün