Government officials have long been considering the idea of introducing passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast. Even before the construction of a train platform and sidetrack next to the Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, Alabama, this concept has been on the table. Mobile officials received a letter from Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose suggesting a temporary arrangement. Among the questions that need to be addressed is where Amtrak would park the train overnight before the sidetrack is ready. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross believes that if this can be resolved, service could start as early as February, which was once the target date for the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Amtrak's Plans and Progress

The plan is for Amtrak to operate two trains a day from Mobile to New Orleans, with four stops in Mississippi, and two trains in the opposite direction. While the exact start date remains unknown, there is a general consensus at the virtual meeting of the Southern Rail Commission that the region is closer than ever to having passenger rail service back since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Amtrak's director of network development, Arun Rao, noted that the project has passed several milestones, including the obligation of a $178.1 million grant for track upgrades and the dismissal of a case before the Surface Transportation Board that had caused delays. Amtrak's project manager of network development, Ben Dodson, said that work is nearly completed on the installation of positive train control, an automated system designed to ensure train safety. Dodson also mentioned that Amtrak plans to work on ticket pricing strategies and the menu of the snack car over the next 60 to 90 days.

Legal and Construction Aspects

Before service can begin, the states of Louisiana and Mississippi must finalize operating agreements with Amtrak. Mobile this week issued a temporary construction easement and a land disturbance permit to allow for the construction of the platform and sidetrack. However, construction cannot start until CSX moves utilities on the property, and there is no set timeline for this. David Clark, the city's tourism director and a member of the Southern Rail Commission, believes that it could take five months to build the train platform and sidetrack once the utilities are relocated. He remains hopeful despite the longer-than-expected timeline, as many entities are working together to make it happen.

Marketing and Funding

Visit Mobile has already started marketing the train line, and the city's tourism director, David Clark, is optimistic about Amtrak's potential to generate tourism and economic development. He believes that the trains will be busy and that the passengers will have a significant impact on the downtown area, including hotels, attractions, and restaurants. Regarding funding, the Mobile City Council committed to a little more than $3 million to subsidize the service for three years. The Alabama Port Authority voted to cover $1 million of the cost, and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey indicated a willingness to contribute another $1 million. However, this depends on the approval of the Legislature. State Sen. Greg Albritton, chairman of the Senate's general fund budget committee, supports the subsidies in the short term but is concerned about the state's revenue trends due to lower interest rates and the depletion of federal funds. He emphasized the need to balance the need for passenger rail with other necessary programs.