Dec 8, 2025 - News
Amtrak's Gulf Coast route doubles ridership expectations
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Amtrak's new Gulf Coast service is on track to double the company's passenger estimates, officials say.
Why it matters: It's good news for the train route trying to make a comeback after 20 years.
The big picture: More than 46,000 people have ridden the Mardi Gras service trains since Aug. 18, Amtrak officials confirmed last week.
- On average, the route had about 420 passengers daily.
- It also had the highest customer satisfaction scores across Amtrak's network, a press release says.
- The two trains have daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, with several stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Between the lines: Louisiana, Mississippi and the city of Mobile subsidize the train service.
Meanwhile, a daily train connecting New Orleans and Baton Rouge is at least two to four years away, John Spain, vice chair of the Southern Rail Commission, previously told Axios.
- Five of the six proposed stops require new train stations to be built before service can start.