ALL ABOARD: Mobile City Council greenlights passenger rail service

Mobile’s biggest “will they, won’t they” has officially turned into a plan of action—passenger rail is making a comeback along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

The Mobile City Council greenlit resolutions that put a plan in motion for Amtrak to make a return—and we have the details.

City Council approval

In its first meeting in the month of August, the Mobile City Council approved a trio of resolutions that laid the foundation for Amtrak’s return to passenger rail service in Alabama.

These are the resolutions, as they appeared on the City Council’s agenda:

• Authorize Funding Agreement with National Railroad Passenger Corporation for Gulf Coast rail service
• Authorize Intergovernmental Agreement with the Alabama State Port Authority for Amtrak Gulf Coast Service Project
• Authorize agreement with National Railroad Passenger Corporation for Gulf Coast rail service

All three passed with flying colors—but what does it mean?

In short, funding for the project was officially secured—with Amtrak and the Port Authority chipping in a total of $4M over three years. The Council also approved a lease for a property that will house the future train platform.

Also in the resolutions is a clause that the city has no financial responsibility to the line after three years. Any governmental funding needed after that needs to come from another source.

Concerns that passenger rail service could interrupt Port operations prompted a clause that would terminate Amtrak’s lease if more than four trains (two eastbound, two westbound) operated during a single day. This decision, coupled with now-obligated rail line improvements, prompted two holdout Council members to vote yes.

When complete, the line will stretch from Mobile to New Orleans, with several stops planned in Mississippi.

We’ve been watching this story since the beginning, check out some of our previous coverage:

• How railroad transportation could be the future in Alabama + across Southeast
• UPDATE: Mobile Amtrak closer to service with new $178M grant
• UPDATE: Mardi Gras Express expects new start date
• Amtrak passenger service between Mobile and New Orleans returning
• UPDATE: Amtrak streamed an empty rail line in latest Mardi Gras Express conflict
• Update on the Mardi Gras Express from Mobile to New Orleans
• All aboard the Mardi Gras Express: Amtrak announces Mobile to New Orleans line by 2022

This is a developing story. Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter for updates as we get them.