Amtrak's new Gulf Coast service from New Orleans to Mobile launches August 18, the railroad announced Tuesday.
The Amtrak Mardi Gras will also stop in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula.
The morning train leaves New Orleans at 7:35 and should arrive in Mobile around 11:20 a.m.
The evening train leaves at 5:30 and gets to the Port City around a quarter after nine.
There are also two trains leaving Mobile each day, bound for New Orleans.
Passengers can leave Alabama at 6:30 a.m. and arrive at the Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans shortly before 10:15 a.m. Afternoon trains leave Mobile at 4:30 and are scheduled to get to New Orleans around 8:15 p.m.
Fares start at $15 for end-to-end service each way, and are less for shorter distances.
"Guests can plan travel for football trips this fall, for November and December holiday travel – and even Mardi Gras Season next year," said Amtrak President Roger Harris.
"Amtrak's return to the Gulf Coast has been a long time coming, and we’re excited to see passenger rail returning to the Gulf Coast and will continue to be a strong advocate for existing and future Amtrak service in New Orleans," said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
"The Southern Rail Commission is incredibly proud and excited that the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is starting so soon after decades of work by all our partners who have played indispensable roles in today's announcement," said Southern Rail Commission (SRC) Chairman Knox Ross. "We know this service will have tremendous impact in boosting our local economies, connecting people with jobs and education opportunities, and bolstering our vibrant tourism industry in the coastal cities along the route and we encourage everyone to start buying tickets for your upcoming travel."
Click here for more on schedules and fares.
The Amtrak Mardi Gras has been in the works for years. Initially, the state of Alabama was not interested in it. The city of Mobile voted to help fund the line, which included building a new train station near the city's downtown convention center.
Delays in that construction pushed the start date to late this summer.
This will be the first passenger rail service between New Orleans and the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina ended the Sunset Limited's service to Florida in 2005.
In the mid-1990s, Amtrak operated the Gulf Coast Limited between New Orleans and Mobile. While ridership grew each week, that service ended before it was even a year old.
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