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Objective

Establishing high-quality passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is a priority project for the State of Louisiana. This service would connect the major population, employment, social and cultural centers along this route and to support the continued economic growth of the southeast Louisiana Super Region which includes more than 2.2 million people and nearly 1 million jobs.

Additionally, restoring passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans is a priority for both the Southern Rail Commission and the State of Louisiana.  Longer term, the SRC envisions rail service connecting New Orleans and Shreveport using the existing tracks.

Further we support passenger rail service along the I-20 Rail Corridor to connect the mega-regions of Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta with the economies and populations of Northern Louisiana and beyond through connections with Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, and Crescent trains.

Overview: Baton Rouge to New Orleans

The project envisions twice daily trips with stops in Baton Rouge downtown and the Health District in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and the Union Passenger Terminal next to the Superdome in New Orleans. This route is part of the Gulf Coast Corridor, one of the nation’s eleven federally-designated high-speed rail corridors. The development of service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans will also function as one of the key segments in the creation of a regional network of passenger rail service stretching from Houston through New Orleans to Mobile and Atlanta.

Passenger rail service provides an attractive and reliable transportation alternative to automobile travel to better connect two largest metro areas in Louisiana comprising half of the state’s population. Passenger rail will serve as a catalyst for economic development by offering improved access to jobs and development opportunities at the stations, while also helping to serve the needs of regional and local commerce. Passenger rail can also be part of an evacuation strategy to safely and conveniently move large numbers of people out of the Greater New Orleans region when disasters pose a threat, including ambulatory medical patients that can be moved to Baton Rouge area hospitals.

Project Status

  • Governor John Bel Edwards has committed to making this project a reality. In 2019, Southern Rail Commission, Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), and GNO, Inc. initiated a poll to gauge residents’ support for restoring rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a part of the Gulf Coast Passenger Rail Network which showed compelling support for funding and riding the passenger rail. 75% responded favorably to the idea and 85% of respondents said that having passenger rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is very important or important to them.

  • Parishes along Rail Corridor have received grant funding from the SRC for planning for station stops. Those stations can now begin construction using federal grant funding such as CRISI, TOD/RIFF, REHAB, and Opportunity Zone funding:

    • Baton Rouge developed plans for two transit oriented development stations: the downtown station on 14th Street in Mid City, catalyzing further redevelopment in the area, and the suburban location for the Health District train station which is a growing employment hub and regional destination.

    • St. John Parish developed plans for a $5.5 million train station serving commuters from across the area in the hopes the depot would boost retail and restaurant development along Main Street in downtown LaPlace.

    • Gonzales developed plans for a train station fronting East Ascension Street with a open air platform, enclosed passenger waiting area and public plaza.

  • In early 2014, an updated feasibility study was completed estimating the infrastructure cost of $260 million project with two daily trips at speeds of 79 mph and a ticket price of $10 to $15 each way.

Economic Impact

  • Investing in connecting the two largest cities in the state with passenger rail service will secure our ability to compete as a super region.

  • Passenger rail will serve as the spine of a multi-modal network that will provide employers access to a much wider, more diverse labor pool, and provide workers with vastly increased access to jobs and affordable housing along with decreased commuting costs.

  • Passenger train service would allow riders to work during commutes, creating more productive commutes.

  • Offer easy connections to events, such as LSU and Saints football games, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.

  • Alternative transportation link to the NOLA International Airport.

  • Critical means of evacuation in the event of natural disasters as a means of transporting patients to Baton Rouge hospitals.

  • Projections of over 200,000 riders annually plus additional riders for large scale events such as football games, conferences.

  • Existing rail infrastructure owned by Kansas City Southern and Canadian National would be improved to provide for safer movement of cargo and passengers along the 80-mile corridor. Crossings would be upgraded and rail lines doubled in some sections to allow freight and passenger trains to move efficiently on the same lines.

Overview: New Orleans to Mobile

Passenger service along the Gulf Coast has been suspended since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed critical rail infrastructure. The Southern Rail Commission and the federal, state, and local officials in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana have been successful in securing millions in funding that will be used to make the major infrastructure and capital investments required to allow Amtrak to move ahead with launching new, regular, and reliable passenger service between New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL, with future expansion envisioned to connect onto Orlando, FL. Communities along this route are enthusiastically supportive of passenger rail service which will be a win for the economy, for tourism, for local business, and for all of the residents who will gain a new affordable way to travel the region. This service will serve the coastal south in a more robust way than the old service ever did, by providing additional connectivity between growing economic centers and the region’s smaller communities, rural areas, and north-south intermodal routes. It will link visitors, employees, and state residents to Gulf casinos, military bases, historic sites, tourist attractions, and colleges.

Long Range Project: Gulf Coast Passenger Rail Between New Orleans and Orlando

For project overview, click here.

Long Range Project: I-20 Corridor

  • The proposed I-20 Rail Corridor service will connect the mega-regions of Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta with the economies and populations of Northern Louisiana and beyond through connections with Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, and Crescent trains.

  • Passenger rail service provides an attractive transportation alternative to automobile travel in the congested I-10 corridor. With shrinking regional airport service, threat of losing essential air service is a real concern. New rail service would create a life-line to connect residents with the international airport in Dallas-Fort Worth.

  • The I-20 East Texas Corridor Advisory Committee was established in August 2013 by the Texas Transportation Commission to assist TxDOT in assessing the rural transportation needs, including passenger rail, along I-20 by providing locally focused input and recommendations.

  • The Southern Rail Commission continues to partner to support the efforts of the I-20 Corridor Council. See more: https://www.i-20corridorcouncil.com/

  • The East Texas Corridor Council (Amtrak, TXDOT, Union Pacific and local governments) completed a feasibility study in 2014 to study passenger rail service between Dallas-Fort Worth and Shreveport.

  • In 2015, the NW Louisiana Council of Governments completed a feasibility study for the 2nd segment for this passenger rail service to link Dallas-Fort Worth, Shreveport and Vicksburg, Mississippi. This study was funded by the State of Louisiana.

  • To complete the full I-20 Rail Corridor Study, Mississippi will evaluate passenger rail service from Vicksburg to Meridian, pending state funding.

Partners

  • Elected officials in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Charles, St. James, Jefferson, St. John and Ascension parishes

  • Baton Rouge Area Foundation

  • GNO Inc.

  • Baton Rouge Area Chamber

  • Capital Region Planning Commission

  • New Orleans Region Planning Commission

  • Build Baton Rouge

  • Louisiana Super Region Rail Authority

  • LA DOTD

  • Northwest LA Council on Governments

  • East Texas Corridor Council

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