The Biden administration is formally backing efforts to bring passenger rail back to the Gulf Coast, throwing federal weight behind a long-running campaign to restore Amtrak service between Mobile and New Orleans.
The U.S. Department of Transportation filed a letter of support for the restoration effort, which would revive service halted since Hurricane Katrina devastated the line in 2005. The proposed route would run twice daily between Mobile and New Orleans, with four stops in Mississippi coastal cities.
Federal Support as a Turning Point
In its letter, the administration argued that expanding intercity passenger rail “plays an essential role in meeting the most important objectives of our transportation system,” citing goals that include fighting climate change, ensuring equitable mobility and driving economic growth.
Knox Ross, secretary-treasurer of the Southern Rail Commission, called the move a step in the right direction. “This opens it up to the whole Gulf South and we think it’s a real opportunity,” Ross said, noting the economic development potential for every coastal city — from hosting train crews to drawing visitors as the region emerged from the pandemic.
Preparation work was already underway, including bringing stations into compliance with accessibility requirements and training crews. Organizers were targeting a first trip in January 2022, and support from the White House made that timeline appear more attainable.