Four cities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are getting new train platforms or repairs to the existing stations ahead of the return of passenger rail service in January.

"Amtrak recently dispatched a full team to assess the remaining work underway on stations along the Mobile to New Orleans route to ensure they are ready for passenger rail service to start in 2022," David Handera, Amtrak vice president of stations and accessibility, said Friday during a meeting of the Southern Rail Commission.