1828C624 61Aa 4E49 A6C9 E4F729Cfc15C E1751377732710 — “The City of New Orleans” by joseph a is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The long awaited return of an Amtrak Mardi Gras service officially has a start date.

Press conferences were held across the Gulf Coast Tuesday morning including one in Mobile. Officials got together to announce the Mobile to New Orleans Amtrak ride will return on Monday, Aug. 18.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Amtrak back to Mobile, and with tickets now officially on sale, this long-awaited service feels closer than ever. Mobilians have looked forward to the return of passenger rail for years, and the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service promises to deliver not just convenience, but connection. Our community is eager to use this service and excited to welcome visitors from across the Gulf Coast.”
Sandy Stimpson, Mobile mayor

This trip was once a staple in the city of Mobile but when rail lines across the coast saw extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina, the service was shut down. Nearly two decades later, its making a return.

Mobile to New Orleans

Mobile officially breaks ground on restoration of Amtrak rail to New Orleans

Tickets are now available for new twice-daily Amtrak intercity train service starting Aug. 18 between Mobile and New Orleans. The new state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer daily morning and evening departures from both cities

The city of Mobile will soon complete a temporary platform for the first train rides coming through Mobile as they continue work on the permanent station.

An inaugural train event will be held Saturday, Aug. 16 to celebrate the official opening. It will be come open to the public two days later.

Coach tickets for adults start at $15 each way, less for shorter distances. There are daily discounts for children ages 2-12, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel and families along with several group rate options

In addition to travel between New Orleans and Mobile, the cities of Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula will also have same-day connections in both directions daily to the famed Amtrak City of New Orleans trains between New Orleans and Chicago via Memphis.

Amtrak Mardi Gras Service guests can also make next-day connections in New Orleans to Amtrak Crescent trains to and from New York via Atlanta, and Amtrak Sunset Limited trains to and from Los Angeles via Tucson, San Antonio and Houston.