Imagine sipping your morning coffee as your train glides past Gulf waters, Spanish moss swaying in the breeze outside your window. No traffic jams, no parking hassles, no white-knuckling the steering wheel through New Orleans’ ancient streets. Nope, not a daydream — it’s the reality aboard Amtrak’s brand-new Mardi Gras Service, and it’s about to change how you experience the Deep South. (Or, you know, how you attend a Saints game.)
New Orleans, Mobile, and beyond
After nearly two decades without passenger rail service, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is back on track, and literally. Launched this past August, the twice-daily Mardi Gras line between New Orleans and Mobile has already become the hottest ticket on the Gulf Coast, with over 20,000 bookings in just its first two months. In fact, it’s selling out; on select dates, they’re adding another traincar.
“Travel should be about more than just getting somewhere,” says Amtrak President Roger Harris, and the Mardi Gras Service delivers on that promise in spades. Named for the region’s most famous celebration, the service connects a string of cultural pearls along the coast: the jazz-soaked streets of New Orleans, the historic charm of Mobile, and the hidden gems of Mississippi’s coastal communities, including Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Each stop offers its own slice of Southern hospitality, from world-class cuisine to centuries-old traditions.
Saints fans, rejoice
The train’s popularity exploded beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. So much so that Amtrak recently added a third car specifically for New Orleans Saints game days, creating 60 additional seats for football pilgrims making the journey to the Caesars Superdome. It’s a testament to what Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Charles Busby calls the region’s “two great passions — festivities and food.”
So, football fans, forget cramped airline seats and interstate traffic. The Mardi Gras Service pampers passengers with wide reclining seats, generous legroom, no middle seats, and ample carry-on allowances. Planning a golf getaway, too? They’ll take your clubs. Traveling with your furry friend? Pets are welcome as well.
Traveling aboard Amtrak
The connections don’t stop at Mobile. Passengers can hop aboard the legendary City of New Orleans for a same-day journey to Chicago via Memphis, or catch the Crescent to New York through Atlanta. Feeling adventurous? The Sunset Limited will whisk you away to Los Angeles, with stops in Houston, San Antonio, and Tucson.
At just $15 for a one-way ticket, it’s not just convenient — it’s practically criminal not to try it. As Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross puts it, “This service will open the Mississippi Gulf Coast to a whole new tourism market, making already wonderful places even better.” Both New Orleans and the Mississippi Coast have spent the last two decades rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. The Mardi Gras Service marks a triumphant return to form, connecting communities that share not just geography but a resilient spirit and zest for life that’s purely Southern.
Getting there:
Trains depart twice daily (morning and evening) from both New Orleans and Mobile
Tickets start at $15 one-way
Extra capacity added for Saints home games