AL: Rising ridership and risks: Coastal leaders push safety for Amtrak’s popular Mardi Gras Service

Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service may be exceeding early ridership projections, but a darker reality has emerged alongside the excitement: a rising number of tragic deaths at railroad crossings along the Gulf Coast.

During a Southern Rail Commission (SRC) meeting on Friday, officials discussed both immediate and long‑term strategies to reduce the number of fatalities. Within the next month, the City of Mobile and Visit Mobile will release a safety video focused on proper behavior at railroad intersections. Longer‑term, the SRC is considering using part of a federal grant to install collapsible concrete bollards at select crossings.

“What needs to be addressed in our community is crossing safety,” said Ashley Rains, spokesperson with Visit Mobile.

The video, produced by the City of Mobile and the Mobile Police Department, is expected later this month. Rains described it as a “safety crossing 101” that is “easily digestible and informational.” It will also highlight the speed differences between long‑familiar freight trains and the newer, faster Amtrak passenger service.

“It’s also a positive message that does not blame anyone for the things they may have done in the past or consider doing in the future, but it’s education,” Rains said. “It’s information that anyone can use.”

The renewed focus on safety follows a series of deadly incidents along the route of the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, which runs twice daily between Mobile and New Orleans with stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis.

The most recent tragedy occurred on Feb. 21 in Theodore, where a 31‑year‑old woman and her 8‑year‑old daughter were killed after attempting to drive through a crossing while the arms and signals were active. Other fatal crashes have occurred in Mississippi, including a November incident in Gautier that damaged one of the train cars.

Knox Ross, chairman of the SRC, said that part of a $500,000 Federal Railroad Administration grant could be used for crossing improvements. He pointed to collapsible bollards—already used in other parts of the country—as a way to prevent drivers from going around lowered gates.

“In other parts of the country, they put in a series of collapsible bollards in the (traffic) lane so you are prevented from driving around the gates,” Ross said, noting that Gulf Coast residents are more accustomed to slower freight trains than higher‑speed Amtrak service. “They are trying to go around the gates as they get impatient. The (Amtrak) train is gone in 10 to 15 seconds, and that can be 10 seconds and your life. We are trying to prevent it from happening.”

Despite the tragedies, the 145-mile route has become a major draw since its return in mid‑August. In less than six months, ridership has surpassed 70,000 passengers—well above initial projections—and is expected to grow further during the busy spring festival season.

At Friday’s meeting in Mobile, local historian Eric Finley told commissioners that the train’s arrival has doubled participation in the monthly tours offered through the Dora Franklin Finley African‑American Heritage Trail. Groups from New Orleans are increasingly common, he said, and word‑of‑mouth is fueling momentum.

“Church gospel groups are coming in and then they tell another group (about their experiences in Mobile) and the word of mouth is keeping us busy,” Finley said, estimating that monthly tour participation has risen from 300 to 600 since the train launched. “It’s generating more business for small businesses.”

John Robert Smith, chairman of Transportation for America, said the service is becoming part of the region’s identity, creating what he called a “double buy‑in” between riders and crews.

“The people on the Gulf call this ‘their’ train,” Smith said. “The crews identify this as their train.”

The route’s reputation is also buoyed by customer satisfaction scores, which rank the Mardi Gras Service as the most popular among Amtrak’s national network.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of initiatives and new service projects, but this one is doing some amazing things,” said Mike Jerew, manager of state‑supported services with Amtrak. “They are telling us great things about the way they are being treated. That’s music to my ears … we are exceeding goals by leaps and bounds. There is a lot to brag about.”

Still, challenges remain.

Equipment Shortage

Amtrak’s limited equipment supply restricts the ability to add more cars. Extra cars were added for New Orleans Saints home games and the Carnival season, but the train—capacity 137—is often sold out on weekends. Ross said only one additional car is currently available. The upcoming Amtrak Airo fleet, capable of 125 mph, may free up equipment elsewhere, though none of the new fleet is slated for the Gulf Coast.

Rising Demand

Ocean Springs has requested a temporary stop during the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in November. SRC commissioner Brian Fulton said a permanent stop would likely be successful. “If we did have one, it would rival the other stops in Mississippi,” he said.

Amtrak and the SRC have not yet released stop‑by‑stop ridership data, though Ross said Mobile and New Orleans are the top destinations, followed by Biloxi and Bay St. Louis. Officials expressed concern about rising costs and longer travel times if new stops are added, but said they will explore temporary festival‑related stops.

State Support

Louisiana and Mississippi each committed $3 million in state support to match a federal Restoration & Enhancement (R&E) grant over three years. Alabama’s support was more complicated, given longstanding opposition from the Alabama State Port Authority. Ultimately, the City of Mobile, the Port Authority, and the state—through Gov. Kay Ivey’s office—agreed to split the $3 million.

With the R&E grants expiring, Amtrak officials stressed the importance of securing ongoing state funding. Smith said that if the train remains popular, it will be “politically difficult” for leaders to withdraw support.

The political landscape may shift after the upcoming midterm elections. Dennis Stripling, executive director of the West Alabama Regional Commission and an Alabama representative on the SRC, said discussions will begin with the next governor once Ivey leaves office in January. Notably, no Alabama governor or high‑ranking state official has yet taken the Mardi Gras Service. Ivey declined an invitation to ride the inaugural train in August due to other commitments. In 2016, former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant rode the inspection train, but then‑Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley did not.

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