Soon, you’ll be able to hop on a train from New Orleans to take a quick jaunt to Gulfport, Mississippi or one of your other favorite spots along the Gulf Coast. There, you can eat, drink, enjoy the sandy beaches, and take a quick train ride back home to NOLA before dinner. That’s the vision of Knox Ross, Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, as he explained to WWL’s Tommy Tucker.
“The big thing is, the construction has started on the platform in Mobile, which is the last thing that needs to happen. So, we’re planning on a June start to service,“ Knox adds. He also emphasizes that each stop will be in a downtown, with ample seat sizes and food service that will include New Orleans favorites.
This plan has been in the works for a long time, and Knox is excited to see it coming to fruition. “We’ve been working on this for a long time, but it’s going to happen,” he says. Knox also explained the run times of the trains and why a steady connection between New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf coast is so important. “The trains will run twice a day, and that’s the key to this whole deal,” says Knox. “You can go out to the bay from New Orleans, spend the day enjoying the shops and bars, get back on the train in the evening and be back in the city at a decent hour.
This interconnectivity will also be beneficial for Mardi Gras going forward, emphasizes Knox. “For next Mardi Gras season, you’ll be able to ride in from the coast, take the train to enjoy the night parades, and you can be back at your desk the next day in time for work,” he told WWL’s Tommy Tucker. Knox also emphasized that the train ride will have great seating and will be cheaper than driving and parking a car at peak times downtown.