What a difference a few days can make! Only one week ago, on June 20, Railway Age covered the latest developments concerning the proposed Gulf Coast service, which would consist of two daily Amtrak passenger trains in each direction between New Orleans and Mobile, making intermediate stops at four towns along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Railway Age reported progress on the CRISI Grant Agreement, the environmental review for the Mobile Station Track Project, and negotiations with the City of Mobile as part of an overall story about status reports that the parties are making to the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The aspect seemed “green” and the indication “clear” as the Port of Mobile had agreed to share the estimated $3.048 million annual cost of operations with the City during the early years of operation, and the State was also exploring the idea of contributing.