With the launch date announcement for Amtraks newest service the Chicago – St. Paul Borealis, that leaves us to question what will the next service be, and when? Well…
The Maris Gras (as It might be called) or the Gulf coast train, will run between New Orleans and Mobile Alabama, running 2rts daily at 80mph, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. Service is expected to start later this year.
Mississippi, Alabama & Louisiana scored a nearly 200mil grant for upgrades to the line, for double tracking and track upgrades to improve service and OTP. However this isn’t the only train Louisiana wants to fund, as they are looking to fund a train between NOLA and Baton Rouge..
for the future of the service, Amtrak will soon build a station in Mobile to allow the service to start later this year, there’s plans floating around to extend trains to either Orlando on the Old Sunset Limited route or up to Birmingham via Montgomery but nothings set in stone..
The South is not very receptive of passenger rail, especially when it’s funded by taxpayers, the only existing Corridor routes in the South currently are the Northeast Regionals, Carolinian, Piedmont, Brightline and Hartland Flyer. Hopefully this train is the start to more!
