All that stands in the way of a restored Amtrak route from New Orleans to Mobile -- with stops in cities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast -- is an expected vote of approval by the Mobile City Council next week.

For years, rail advocates have fought for the return of the Amtrak route, which had been disrupted by damage to rail infrastructure from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Now, it looks like success is imminent, with Amtrak planning for rail service beginning in the first quarter of 2025.