Gulf Coast residents anticipate potential return of Amtrak

“I think the Gulf Coast is going to significantly benefit by having easy access from New Orleans and Mobile to Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs… they’re all going to hugely benefit from that tourism,” said Mark Peeler, a south Mississippi resident who eagerly anticipates Amtrak’s possible return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.

Now, only one more step must be taken to bring an influx of tourists to the region.

That step lies just across the Alabama state line, as the Mobile City Council will vote next Tuesday on three resolutions that should help restore passenger service. Once those resolutions are approved, work on platforms and stations can finally begin, bringing a vital service back to South Mississippi.

Aside from the revenue brought in from passengers coming through, tourism along the coast should see a boost. This is especially true in Gulfport, where many shops and restaurants are located within blocks of the city’s Amtrak platform.

Brackwater Wine and Spirits manager Walter Pitts explained just how much his city will benefit.

“It’s going to make it improve Gulfport tremendously,” Pitts said. “We’ll have a lot of visitors, especially to the downtown area, and get people excited about when they come get off the train from other places, they can come here and check out the downtown area and it’ll be great for us.”

The rail-line would not just be effective in bringing people to the Gulf Coast, it would give Mississippi residents like Peeler a more convenient option for visiting New Orleans and Mobile.

“I would use it very often because it allows me the ability to get downtown without having to hassle with all the driving and all the negative consequences of traffic and those kind of things,” Peeler said.

The starting date for Amtrak is set for early 2025, with New Orleans pushing for services to begin before the city hosts the 2025 Super Bowl in February. The rail-line will include four stops in Mississippi – Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Once service begins, trains will leave Mobile each day at 6:30 am and 4:30 pm and make stops in the Magnolia State along their routes to New Orleans.