GNO, Inc. Sunday Night Highlight – The Mardi Gras Express Rides Again!
After nearly 20 years, daily passenger rail is returning to the Gulf Coast.
Starting August 18, the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will connect New Orleans and Mobile, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. It marks the first daily passenger service east of New Orleans since 2005, when the Sunset Limited’s Gulf Coast route was suspended after Hurricane Katrina.
This new service is the result of sustained collaboration between state and local governments, federal agencies, and regional economic development partners. The Southern Rail Commission (SRC) — a tri-state compact including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama — has led coordination efforts for nearly two decades, securing freight rail agreements, track improvements, and funding partnerships.
GNO, Inc. has supported the restoration throughout, including testimony before the Surface Transportation Board in 2022 in favor of Amtrak’s right to operate on Gulf Coast freight rail lines. In partnership with SRC and Congressman Troy Carter, GNO, Inc. also raised the issue in U.S. House hearings and before the New Orleans City Council, emphasizing the route’s importance for regional economic development, workforce mobility, and interstate connectivity. Special credit goes to civic leader John Spain of Baton Rouge, who has been a lead champion for years.
With trains departing twice daily in each direction, the Mardi Gras Service is expected to serve over 53,000 riders in its first year. Amtrak projects strong ridership thanks to same-day connections to Chicago via the City of New Orleans, and next-day transfers to New York and Los Angeles via the Crescent and Sunset Limited. Fares will start at $15, with discounts available for families, veterans, and groups.
The train is designed for comfort: three 70-passenger cars, no middle seats, Wi-Fi, and a café offering regional fare (Moon Pies, pralines, muffalettas, and Zapp’s!). Golf bags are welcome, and the route is pet-friendly. The full route travel time is approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes each way, with departures from Union Passenger Terminal at 7:35am and 5:31pm.
As a next step, GNO, Inc. and partners in Baton Rouge are working to relink New Orleans and the State Capital by rail, for reasons of business and football.
You can read more here.
You can book tickets for the Mardi Gras Express here.
