Wicker Celebrates 100,000th Passenger on the Mardi Gras Rail Service 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., released the following statement celebrating the 100,000th passenger on Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Rail. As the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Wicker was instrumental in ensuring passenger rail returned to the Gulf Coast. Amtrak had hoped for 71,000 passengers in the first year, but instead it took just 8 months to hit the 100,000 passenger milestone. Travelers have given it the highest satisfaction rating of any Amtrak route.

“The Gulf Coast waited nearly 20 years for the return of passenger rail, and they have given the Mardi Gras Service a warm welcome. Passengers have shattered demand expectations, causing Amtrak to add weekend capacity. This passenger rail service has brought coastal communities closer together and generated an enormous economic boost to Gulf states. I am confident that Mardi Gras Rail will continue to boost tourism and job creation in Mississippi.”

Senator Wicker spent nearly ten years securing federal investment, continuing conversations with stakeholders, and pressing Transportation Secretary nominees and federal rail officials about their commitment to Gulf Coast rail. Serving as the lead Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee allowed him to advocate effectively for Gulf Coast rail.

Below is a timeline of the effort that went into securing the return of the Mardi Gras Service.

• In 2008, Senator Wicker gave his maiden Senate speech in which he spoke extensively about the need to rebuild the Gulf Coast and called it Mississippi’s number one issue.
• In 2015, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into law after it was passed under Senator Wicker’s leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee. It was the first time passenger rail funding was part of a surface transportation reauthorization bill.
• Because of Senator Wicker’s guidance, Congress created the Gulf Coast Working Group in the FAST Act to perform a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) administered study. This study was to determine whether passenger rail service should be reintroduced in the Gulf Coast and how it should be designed.
• In 2016, Senator Wicker participated in the Gulf Coast Rail inspection trip, the first passenger train since Hurricane Katrina.
• Senator Wicker received the “Golden Spike” award from the National Association of Railroad Passengers in recognition of his leadership and support of passenger rail in the bipartisan FAST Act.
• In 2019, the Southern Rail Commission was awarded $42.8 million in federal funding that helped lay the groundwork for the Mardi Gras Service. This funding was awarded with support from Senator Wicker.
• In 2021, Senator Wicker urged the Chairman of the STB (Surface Transportation Board) to restore service between New Orleans and Mobile. He argued that a twice daily service would provide a “huge economic life” to the cities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• In 2022, Senator Wicker testified before the STB advocating for the Amtrak application to restore service to the Gulf Coast to be approved. He stated: “For the Mississippians who lost a transportation option along with so much else to Hurricane Katrina, this case is not an abstract policy question. It's about continuing and completing the recovery. Freight and passenger railroads must work together to achieve benefits for both elements of rail transportation along the Gulf Coast.”
• In 2023, Senator Wicker announced the award of $178.4 million in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program funding critical to restore passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, replacing the earlier $33 million award. This funding was used to complete necessary construction in Mobile and other portions of the rail line.
• In 2025, the Federal Rail Administration announced a $21,117,115 grant for Gulf Coast Rail with the support of Senator Wicker. The grant supported the operating cost of Amtrak’s services returning to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• On August 16, 2025 Amtrak hosted the inaugural ride of Mardi Gras Service.