Amtrak’s Newest Route Exceeds All Expectations

Amtrak has launched several new trains and routes in the last few years. In August, the highly anticipated NextGet Acela trains made their debut, and a few days ago, the company announced that a train between Albany and New York City would finally be restored.

In addition, Amtrak’s latest routes continue to impress passengers with their record-breaking results. A few months ago, the Amtrak Borealis service reached 250,000 passengers, just over a year following its debut. However, there’s another route recently added to Amtrak’s network that is now breaking all records: the Mardi Gras Service. Here is everything you should know about this route and its brand-new ridership milestone.

Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Exceeds All Expectations, Welcoming Double The Originally Estimated Passengers

Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service was launched only a few months ago; however, it is already proving to be a highly successful route. According to Knox Ross, the chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, between mid-August and the end of September, it welcomed a total of 19,000 passengers. Yet, numbers continue to increase.

As of Thursday, 23, the total figure of passengers who chose this line is 30,000. Knox Ross declared that this is over double Amtrak’s original estimates. Amtrak initially estimated a total of 71,000 passengers for Mardi Gras’ first year. However, if numbers remain stable, the total number of passengers in the first year may reach over 150,000.

Ridership is now averaging about 90%, and Amtrak even had to include an extra car, adding 60 additional seats on specific days. But what exactly is the Mardi Gras Service?

The Mardi Gras service was launched on August 18, 2025, to replace Gulf Coast Limited, which had to stop operating in 2005 due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

The train connects New Orleans in Louisiana with Mobile in Alabama, stopping at four stations along the way.

Mardi Gras Service Stops

New Orleans, Louisiana

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Gulfport, Mississippi

Biloxi, Mississippi

Pascagoula, Mississippi

Mobile, Alabama

The entire trip takes 3 hours and 43 minutes, with two departures per day, both from Mobile and New Orleans. Trains feature free Wi-Fi and no middle seats, as well as a café service offering locally sourced menu items for all tastes.

Why Is The Mardi Gras Service So Popular?

There are a variety of reasons why this route is now getting so many passengers. For instance, Amtrak is now offering a 3X points deal to its Amtrak Guest Rewards® members. The company is celebrating the launch of the Mardi Gras Service by allowing its customers to earn triple points on all Amtrak Mardi Gras travel if they complete at least three trips from August 18 to November 18.

Bonus points will be added retroactively, and 3X points will also be awarded for all additional travel on this route. In addition, the Mardi Gras Service is now incredibly popular among sports fans. Saints fans have been using this route to watch their favorite team, and several matches are now planned for November and December.

What Did Amtrak Fans Say About The Mardi Gras' Ridership Milestone?

In a Reddit post sharing the recent Mardi Gras record-breaking numbers, several people left comments showing their enthusiasm for the news. For instance, someone pointed out that U.S. citizens are tired of driving, and more and more people are now opting for trains.

Others, such as Big_daddy_sneeze wrote, 'Exciting news. I’ve been contemplating doing a Gulf Coast vacation and spending a day at each town along the Mardi Gras route.' Some users also suggested adding new stops, while others reported boarding the train and not seeing a single empty seat.

For now, it seems that the Mardi Gras service will continue to shatter all passenger projections. Hopefully, its success will continue in the upcoming months as more people decide to opt for train travel instead of choosing highly polluting transportation methods, such as flights and cars.

https://www.thetravel.com/author/cristina-miceli/

Amtrak To Begin Testing High-Speed Trains On The Northeast Corridor

The Federal Railroad Administration cleared testing of high-speed trains on the Northeast Corridor, a crucial step for Amtrak in advancing the long-delayed project.

Why it matters: The trains are faster and can carry more passengers than the current aging Acela fleet, which was supposed to be decommissioned in 2016, per the New York Times.

Driving the news: Amtrak announced testing will commence on tracks running from Washington to Boston after the new trains were approved by the FRA on the 14th attempt following repeated failed computer modeling tests, per the Times.

Flashback: In 2016, the federal government announced it was giving Amtrak a $2.45 billion loan for the project.
Two years later, French manufacturing company Alstom informed Amtrak that train modeling showed the trains weren't safe on the Northeast Corridor tracks, which need more than $100 billion in repairs and upgrades for the trains to reach maximum speed, per the NYT.

Amtrak still gave the company approval to build the trains despite the modeling issues, feeling they had little recourse since the contract was in place. The Times cited inspector general reports in 2020 and 2023 that warned of continued failed modeling tests and defects in trains, though the reports also said that the defects could be fixed.

What they're saying: Amtrak tells Axios that track testing is "the next step in the safety certification process that leads toward launching revenue service."

By the numbers: The high-speed trains cost Amtrak about $1.6 billion total.

Amtrak has spent more than $48 million to maintain and keep running the Acela trains, which were also built by Alstom, per the NYT.

The intrigue: The new trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour and are designed to tilt around curves for a better ride.

They can carry 386 passengers each, or 25% more than the Acela fleet.

What's next: Amtrak initially hoped the new fleet would be operational by this year but still hasn't said when it expects the trains will be deployed.

https://www.axios.com/authors/iavilucea

Amtrak Announces Impressive Train Travel Updates We Could See Over The Next Few Years

Amtrak is on a roll — literally, of course, but also figuratively. Thanks to four government grants approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak plans to pour $2.1 billion into multiple train projects across America over the next several years. For 22.9 million annual Amtrak passengers, that spells faster trains, increased reliability, and a broader reach for service, connecting cities like never before.

To break down the numbers, in addition to other grants, about $108 million will go towards Amtrak stations and service upgrades. In the New Era of Rail, as Amtrak has dubbed it, the national rail service will modernize its fleet of trains, along with tracks, tunnels, bridges, and stations. After that, another $35 million will go towards improving 69 rail lines in 39 states. The chunk left, $2 billion, will go towards Amtrak's existing partners and potential partner projects in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maine. The overarching goal is to enhance the customer experience and bring intercity transportation into new communities, said Stephen Gardener, the CEO of Amtrak, in a press release announcing the news.

Rail projects from east to west

On the East Coast, the biggest lump sum is earmarked for Chicago Union Station ($93 million), which will be ADA-compliant and have improved ventilation systems. Also, the train line that connects Chicago to New York City will run on daily service instead of only three times per week, offering stops in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC, among other cities. Finally, there will be three additional round trips per day between the Big Apple and Washington, DC.

On the West Coast, the Sunset Limited Service from Los Angeles to New Orleans will bump up service from three times per week to daily, bringing passengers to Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston along the way. In Texas, passengers can expect a new route between Dallas and Houston. The high-speed rail line, known as the Texas High-Speed Rail Corridor, will connect the two cities in less than 90 minutes. Whether you're a busy commuter or in the mood for a scenic long-distance train trip, Amtrak will soon have you covered.

President Biden's rail investment

While other regions around the world have embraced vast train networks, most notably countries in Europe and Asia, Americans have access to limited rail infrastructure in comparison — though perhaps not for much longer. The good news for Amtrak comes on the heels of President Biden's announcement that the administration will allocate $8 billion towards 10 projects across the country, the largest investment in train transportation since Amtrak was unveiled in 1971.

Among the projects will be Brighline's rail line from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, which will race across the Mojave Desert at 200 miles an hour to get passengers from one city to the other in just over two hours. The high-speed, all-electric train will be the first of its kind in the states, ahead of the Olympics slated for California in 2028. With several exciting projects in the works, it seems that train travel in America is finally getting the renaissance it deserves.

Source: https://www.explore.com/1472575/amtrak-announces-incredible-train-travel-expansions-updates-see-next-few-years/

Food From Philadelphia's Iconic Parc Will Be Served To First-Class Travelers On Amtrak's Acela Trains

Riders can order the restaurant's beef bourguignon, as well as two other options from Stephen Starr's eateries.

One of Philadelphia's ritziest restaurants is hitting the rails through a partnership with Amtrak.

Parc will soon be featured on the first-class menu of Acela trains traveling from Boston to Washington, D.C. The French restaurant's beef bourguignon — made with roasted carrots, pearl onions, bacon, cremini mushrooms, braised beef and red wine jus — is one of three new dishes rotating on the menu every three weeks this fall and winter.

All of the featured items come from restaurateur Stephen Starr's various properties. Amtrak announced a partnership with Starr back in May, rolling out select dishes from Buddakan, The Continental Mid-Town, Pizzeria Stella and Adrian on its spring and summer first-class menu. The Continental Mid-town will be included again in the fall and winter edition, this time through its lobster mac and cheese.

The other newcomer is Starr's D.C. restaurant Le Diplomate. Amtrak will feature the eatery's tropeze salad, a Mediterranean medley of cucumbers, chickpeas, couscous, lentils, shaved carrots and feta cheese.

Parc has received many accolades since it opened in 2008. On top of making many "best of Philly" restaurant lists, it's also been called one of the most romantic and scenic in the nation. In 2017, it was one of the top 50 highest-grossing independent restaurants in America.

Source: https://www.phillyvoice.com/staff-contributors/kristin-hunt/

Louisiana And Amtrak Agree To Revive Train Service Between New Orleans, Baton Rouge

Louisiana is a step closer to connecting its capital city to New Orleans via a revived train line.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a service development agreement that will advance the return of intercity passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, about an hour-long commute.

According to the agreement, passenger service could start as early as 2027. The plan is to start with one round trip a day. More rides will be added as riders increase. Along the route, passengers can expect stops in Gonzales, Laplace, and Jefferson Parish.

“An Amtrak line connecting Louisiana’s capital to the largest metropolitan area in the state will have immense economic benefits for both cities and the parishes in between,” Edwards said in a news release. “Not only will this service potentially reduce the number of vehicles on the roadways which will result in less congestion, but it will also connect communities through employment opportunities and allow for more transportation options for festivals, sporting events, and concerts.”

A $20 million settlement from the Road Home Program is helping fund the project, reviving the passenger train service that stopped running in 1969.

“This project is just one of many ways Louisiana infrastructure is moving forward,” said Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Eric Kalivoda. “This will serve commuters and also expand tourism opportunities by providing a safe, reliable transportation system.”

“In poll after poll, here in Louisiana and nationally, when given the option to take a train rather than drive, the public wants Amtrak and passenger trains as a travel choice,” Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gardner said.

The proposed route is scheduled to take 75 to 90 minutes. Amtrak will release schedules and fares closer to the launch of the new service.

Amtrak will use tracks currently in place and owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CN railways. The tracks run along the I-10 corridor connecting New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Infrastructure upgrades along the route will begin next year.

The new route will link the New Orleans to Mobile corridor projected to open in 2024, the governor’s office said. These routes will join the Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans, and Crescent lines in Amtrak’s Louisiana route schedule.

Source: AP

Amtrak To Restore Service Along This Southern Route For The First Time In Nearly 20 Years

Amtrak will restore service to the Gulf Coast for the first time in almost 20 years as part of a nearly $200 million grant the rail company received from the federal government.

The plan, called the Gulf Coast Corridor Improvement Project, will aim to re-establish twice-daily service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans next year, according to Amtrak. The project will redevelop part of the rail line that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The project, which is run in cooperation with the Southern Rail Commission, will be completed with money from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program with additional funding from several stakeholders, including Amtrak and the states of Mississippi and Louisiana.

“The CRISI grants announced today will help launch new and expanded service, advance critical safety and reliability improvements, and provide opportunities for the workforce, marking another big milestone as we continue to advance a new era of passenger rail,” Amtrak’s CEO Stephen Gardner said in a statement.
The grant covers several improvements along the route, including the development, final design, and construction for track and signal-related improvements, as well as upgrades to grade crossings and improvements to stations.

The plan to bring back service to the Gulf Coast has been in the works for years. In 2020, the Mobile City Council voted to support a project to restore service between the city and New Orleans. Previously, Amtrak operated service that ran along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans all the way to Jacksonville, FL, according to the company.

Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said the grant represented “years of dedicated efforts to reconnect our communities after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.”

Wicker added: “Restoring passenger rail service will create jobs, improve quality of life, and offer a convenient travel option for tourists, contributing to our region's economic growth and vitality.”

Travelers who end up in New Orleans can also board Amtrak’s City of New Orleans train, which runs 900 miles from Chicago down to New Orleans’ Union Passenger Terminal.

In addition to the Gulf Coast, Amtrak will use the federal grant for other projects, including to fund a programmatic study and survey of potential fence locations along the Northeast Corridor.

Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/author/alison-fox

Chicago-St. Louis Amtrak Travel Getting Upgraded From Current 90 Mph To 110 Mph

Amtrak travel between Chicago and St. Louis is about to get 15 minutes quicker thanks to a high-speed rail project allowing trains to reach speeds of 110 mph (177 kph), Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday.

The higher speeds take effect June 26 and will reduce the duration of the trip from the current five hours and 13 minutes. Trips from St. Louis to Chicago are a few minutes shorter, according to Amtrak timetables.

Existing maximum speeds on the route are 90 mph (144.8 kph).

In addition to increasing speeds, the $1.96 billion project also provided safety improvements at 212 grade crossings, Pritzker said.

“The railway has always been a vital component of our state’s infrastructure, but today we are taking a major step in modernizing rail services,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said.

Funding for the project includes $1.66 billion in federal funding, primarily through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded that year, and $300 million in state and non-federal funds.

The project broke ground in 2010 and was completed in 2018. But it has gone through several years of test runs.

Virginia Adds 2 New Amtrak Round Trips To Washington

New round-trip Amtrak routes will start Monday between Washington and two Virginia cities: Norfolk and Roanoke.

The additions will bring to eight the number of state-funded round trips from the nation’s capital, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

“We’re adding more options for people at the right time,” said Michael McLaughlin, chief operating officer at the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. “Capacity on the trains is getting full, and ridership is at record-high levels.”

The extra train to Norfolk will be the third round trip to the area, according to the newspaper. It will depart Norfolk at 1 p.m. and arrive in Washington in a little over 4.5 hours. A new southbound train will depart Washington at 12:05 p.m.

Amtrak already runs one morning trip from Roanoke to D.C. and an evening return trip. Starting Monday, a new train will leave Washington for Roanoke at 8:05 a.m., and a Washington-bound train will leave Roanoke at 4:30 p.m., arriving shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Amtrak, which expanded service to Richmond last year, said the additions will give riders more options to travel in Virginia and boost connections to the Northeast.

Virginia is among 17 states that have state-sponsored Amtrak service, the Post reported.