More and more travelers are turning to Amtrak for their vacations, as evidenced by the record 34.5 million passengers who rode the rails in the company’s 2025 fiscal year. This uptick in ridership is due to several factors, including the introduction of new routes in previously underserved regions. One of the most notable examples is a service that debuted last summer and has since gone on to shatter ridership projections. Here’s a closer look at the new Amtrak service that riders can’t get enough of.

A Return 20 Years in the Making

When you hear “Mardi Gras,” your mind probably goes straight to the seasonal holiday that’s celebrated each year, particularly in New Orleans. But Mardi Gras is also the name of Amtrak’s newest route, and unlike its namesake holiday, the service can be enjoyed year-round.

The Mardi Gras line debuted on August 18, 2025, marking the first opportunity to travel by train on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in nearly 20 years, according to Amtrak. When Hurricane Katrina hit the region in 2005, it damaged the tracks east of New Orleans that Amtrak had previously utilized for its Gulf Coast Limited Service, which stopped operating in 1997. Its long-distance service on the Sunset Limited between New Orleans and Florida was forced to cease operation in 2005 because of hurricane-caused track damage.

In the following decades, Amtrak faced numerous funding and political roadblocks in trying to restore service. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act kick-started Amtrak’s return with federal funding, and state and local governments have also agreed to chip in to support the new route. 

The Mardi Gras route offers two daily trips in each direction between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. As of June 2026, trains depart from New Orleans each day at 7:35 a.m. and 5:31 p.m., and they leave Mobile at 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The journey lasts three hours and 43 minutes one way, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula (all in Mississippi) along the way.

Surpassing Ridership Projections

While there was plenty of excitement about this Mardi Gras service from the start, it seems that its popularity caught even Amtrak off guard. The company originally projected that 71,000 travelers would ride the Mardi Gras route in its first year — an estimate that has already been surpassed.

In its first two months of operation, around 30,000 people rode the Mardi Gras service. This was more than double what Amtrak estimated for that period, which is typically slower in terms of overall ridership. Trains also averaged around 90% full, which was higher than the 75% load factor on previous Gulf Coast routes that existed more than two decades ago.

In April 2026, the Mardi Gras route surpassed a major milestone: It welcomed its 100,000th passenger just eight months after its debut. Travelers on that record-setting train were treated to free candy bars, coffee, and tea. Given ridership trends thus far, it’s possible the Mardi Gras line could double the initial ridership estimate of 71,000 by the time it hits one year of service in August.

Route Highlights

The Big Easy is known far and wide for its stunning architecture, awe-inspiring churches, lively jazz music, and decadent food, including po’boys and beignets. But there are many other highlights worth seeing along the Mardi Gras Amtrak route.

When traveling east from New Orleans, the first stop is Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, a quaint city along the Gulf Coast with attractions such as white-sand beaches, a walking tour through the unique vegetarian of Devils Swamp, and the highly rated Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum. From there, the train continues to Gulfport, where families can visit the Gulf Islands Waterpark or hop on the ferry to enjoy the picturesque beaches of Ship Island.

Heading east to Biloxi, you’ll encounter the Biloxi Lighthouse, a 65-foot-tall landmark constructed in 1848 and thought to be one of the first cast-iron structures built in the South. The final stop in Mississippi is the city of Pascagoula, which is the hometown of music legend Jimmy Buffett. You can visit his childhood home to pay your respects or take a stroll across the Buffett Bridge named in his honor.

In Mobile, don’t miss the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, whose namesake centerpiece served on the Pacific Front during World War II. In July, it’s also worth driving 35 minutes south toward Dauphin Island for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. This annual, three-day competition began in 1929 and claims to be the largest fishing tournament in the world, welcoming more than 3,000 anglers and 75,000 spectators each year.

Featured image credit: Courtesy of Amtrak