Amtrak Gulf Coast service to receive $21 million grant

The Federal Railroad Administration will award a $21.1 million grant for the return of Amtrak Gulf Coast service, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced today (Jan. 6, 2025). The funding will support operating costs for the planned twice-daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.

Funds will come from the FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement Grant program.

“This is great news for Mississippi,” Wicker said in a press release. “Gulf Coast Rail is an investment in the future of our state. This grant will help with operational costs, ultimately reconnecting communities and ensuring that Mississippians have access to reliable transportation.”

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The most exciting new trains coming in 2025

Amazing adventures, extraordinary landscapes and fabulous cuisine — the world’s greatest railway journeys are an unforgettable experience that can immerse you in the culture of a new country.

Demand for luxury “land cruise” trains with five-star hotel-style accommodation is booming. 2025 will see several new trains take to the rails for the first time, offering new opportunities to explore Italy, France, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

But the best railway journeys don’t have to be the most expensive. There’s an ever-evolving world of train trips out there.

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Part 2 of 4: Amtrak, NIL and 20 years since Katrina — the biggest South MS stories of 2025

Crowds of people and even brass bands greeted the Amtrak Sunset Limited when the Amtrak inspection train rolled across South Mississippi in 2016. At that time nobody knew passenger train service between New Orleans and Mobile — with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula on the Mississippi Gulf Coast would take another nine years to pull off.

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Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis appointed to Southern Rail Commission

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry appointed Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis to the Southern Rail Commission.

The Southern Rail Commission works to progress public rail transportation in the Southeast. Ellis’ role as part of the commission includes strategizing economic growth, expanding travel options and creating more resilient infrastructure.

Landry said he believes Ellis‘ background will help him in his role on the commission.

“Mayor Friday Ellis has the background and leadership necessary to ensure success for the Southern Rail Commission,” Landry said. “I look forward to his great leadership in this position.”

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Amtrak Gulf Coast case could chart a course for future intercity passenger rail

On Oct. 22, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose and Amtrak President Roger Harris joined government and business officials in Mobile, Alabama, for a ceremony to mark the start of construction on a boarding platform for Amtrak’s future Gulf Coast service between Mobile and New Orleans.

Exactly when the service will launch remains unclear as of press time. In an interview with Progressive Railroading in late October, Harris said Amtrak is anticipating all aspects of the project will be wrapped up in spring 2025 so that service can begin.

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Could Amtrak trains run in Mobile even before construction of platform?

Government officials have kicked around the idea of starting passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast even before the construction of a train platform and sidetrack next to the Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.

Mobile officials said Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose suggested a temporary arrangement in a letter to Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.

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Amtrak to Restart Passenger Service on Southern Railroad

Amtrak, after a long wait Mobile ve New Orleans is set to restart passenger train service between the two cities within a few months. Chairman of the Southern Railway Commission Knox Ross, announced this exciting development, noting that the process is now in its final stages. “We see a light in the tunnel, and it’s actually a train,” Ross said, expressing his optimism for this important transportation project.

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Amtrak Passenger Rail Service Returns Soon to the Port City

Amtrak’s passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans is set to resume within months. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross announced during Friday’s board meeting that the much-anticipated passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans is only months away. Ross expressed optimism, stating, “We see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s actually a train.”

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More people are riding Amtrak than ever before, and improvements are on the way

Amtrak has reached a historic milestone, carrying 32.8 million passengers on the passenger rail system in fiscal year 2024. That’s a 15% increase from the previous fiscal year when it carried nearly 28.6 million riders, according to a news release from Amtrak.

“This record ridership shows that travelers throughout the U.S. want efficient travel options, and we are committed to meeting that demand,” said Stephen Gardner, Amtrak’s CEO, in the release.

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