March 6, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

At a meeting of the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) it was announced that progress is being made on future plans to start passenger rail service between Dallas-Fort Worth, East Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama cities toward Atlanta and the east coast.

The first phase of a $500,000 corridor identification planning grant(CID) has been completed and additional funding remains to continue to the next step in a long process. The multi-step planning award was issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to the SRC and Amtrak,

The commission members heard that communities along the I-20 corridor have already started filing for rail crossing safety improvement grants under the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements(CRISI) program. "This is the best time to get these safety improvements done", said SRC Chairman Knox Ross, referring to having crossing work done before faster trains run in the future. 

During the meeting, the SRC members heard again how the Amtrak Mardi Gras service between New Orleans and Mobile has shattered ridership records in the first six months of service and has been a boon to the economy in Mobile and other Gulf Coast served cities. Amtrak originally projected ridership of 60,000 in its first complete year. As of January 31, nearly 70,500 passengers have traveled on the Gulf Coast line. 

More passengers could be accommodated on the trains if Amtrak had additional coaches to add, but the railroad is currently constrained with increased national ridership and plans to issue a contract for more equipment in 2027.  An extra car has been added for New Orleans Saints home games and during the Carnival season, but the Mardi Gras service could use even more capacity.

Several comments were made during the meeting explaining how business has increased because of the train service. Eric Finley, who is a local historian and offers tours on the Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage trail, said that interest has doubled from 300 to 600 visitors a month and word-of-mouth is building business.  The SCR heard that hotel, restaurant and other small business opportunities have increased, thanks to the new two daily round trips.

There have been several fatalities and injuries by motorists going around gates and lights at rail crossings and being struck by the faster trains. Chairman Ross said that part of a $500,000 FRA grant could be used for more crossing improvements, including collapsible bollards that are used elsewhere. They would prevent drivers from entering tracks when trains approach.

The commission has a second Corridor Identification and Development grant to develop passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans to help alleviate traffic in the busy I-10 Louisiana corridor. 

Rather than propose new service between New Orleans and the state capitol at Baton Rouge LA, it was mentioned that the existing Mardi Gras trains would be expected to continue on a run-through service. Funding has not yet been identified for the extension, but it is supported by the Louisiana legislature and the governor, according to comments. 

Tomika Monterville, representing the Federal Railroad Administration, told commissioners that the agency is happy to hold 30 minute briefings with those interested in applications to discuss best practices and tips.

The Southern Rail Commission was briefed on the Union Pacific - Norfolk Southern merger and will be advised when oral testimony begins before the Surface Transportation Board later this year. Permission will be required to run a passenger train from the DFW area to East Texas on Union Pacific tracks, and the SRC could ask that a slot to handle the train be included in the  merger agreement, if necessary. East of Texas, passenger trains would use CPKC Railway tracks in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, already allowed from a previous agreement. 

File photo credit: Amtrak media center, from previous SRC meeting