Amtrak Reports 70,500 Gulf Coast Passengers in 5.5 Months

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service along the U.S. Gulf Coast has surpassed its initial ridership targets, carrying nearly 70,500 passengers between its mid-August 2025 launch and January 31, 2026. The Southern Rail Commission (SRC) confirmed these figures, which exceed the full-year projection of 60,000 passengers in less than six months. The service operates on a corridor between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The Mardi Gras service achieved 117.5% of its annual ridership goal in just 5.5 months of operation. In addition to strong passenger volume, a Customer Satisfaction Index survey indicated that 94.1% of travelers were “extremely satisfied” with their overall experience on the new line. The full financial scope of the project’s setup and initial operating costs were not detailed in the performance announcement.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

The strong performance of the Gulf Coast intercity service contrasts sharply with trends seen in some major urban transit systems during the same period. For example, Metro Transit in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area reported a 3% overall ridership decline in 2025, with its light rail network experiencing a significant 14% drop (Source: Axios, 2026). This occurred even as national transit ridership figures in the U.S. increased by nearly 7% that year, highlighting a divergence between the successful launch of new regional rail corridors and the recovery challenges facing some established local public transport networks.

Editor’s Analysis

The success of the Mardi Gras line suggests a strong latent demand for new intercity passenger rail services in underserved U.S. corridors, particularly those connecting tourism and business hubs. This stands in contrast to the challenges faced by some urban metro systems, which are still grappling with post-pandemic shifts in commuting patterns and public safety perceptions. This divergence could influence future rail investment priorities, favoring new point-to-point regional connections over purely commuter-focused urban expansions, a trend supported by large-scale national infrastructure investment plans (Source: Railway Pro, 2026).

FAQ

Q: What was the original ridership forecast for the Gulf Coast service?
A: Amtrak’s original projection was for 60,000 passengers in the first complete year of service. The line exceeded this number by over 10,000 passengers in under six months.

Q: How does this ridership performance compare to national trends?
A: The Gulf Coast service’s growth outpaces the broader U.S. market, where national transit ridership grew by nearly 7% in 2025. In contrast, some urban systems like Metro Transit saw ridership decline by 3% in the same year.

Q: What was the customer satisfaction rating for the new service?
A: According to Amtrak’s Customer Satisfaction Index survey, 94.1% of passengers reported being “extremely satisfied” with their overall experience on the Mardi Gras train.