Amtrak, freight rail companies and the Port of Mobile have struck a deal that will bring back passenger trains to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Amtrak hasn’t run a Gulf Coast route since Hurricane Katrina.
TIM ISBELL/SUN HERALD The Amtrak Inspection Train arrives in Gulfport, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. The train ride began in New Orleans, making stops at Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi Pascagoula before heading to Alabama and Florida. New funding is available that could bring back passenger service to South Mississippi.
“This is going to happen,” said Southern Rail Commissioner Knox Ross. “Everybody has to do what they said they’d do, but this will be a tremendous boost for the Gulf Coast.”Success! You're on the list. Ross said the details of the agreement are confidential and he doesn’t have a timeline of what to expect. A copy of the settlement agreement filed with the Surface Transportation Board had specifics redacted but stated the settlement terms will “completely resolve the dispute” after “several conditions are met in the coming weeks and months.”asking the body to step in to settle the dispute over access to the freight-owned tracks.
Amtrak had always maintained the route could handle the added passenger train traffic, freight companies and the Port of Mobile worried it could negatively affect business.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Amtrak, freight railroads reach agreement to return passenger trains to Gulf CoastAmtrak, the CSX and Norfolk Southern freight railroads and the Alabama State Port Authority have reached a “conditional” agreement that will allow passenger rail service to return to the region, according to a joint announcement by the parties.
Read more »
Robert Taylor named new state superintendent of educationRobert Taylor, a North Carolina educator and Mississippi native, is the next state superintendent of education. He will start in late January 2023.
Read more »
At least one dead after Cuban migrant vessel capsizes off Florida coast, Coast Guard saysThe U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday said it has recovered the body of one person after a vessel carrying Cuban migrants capsized off Florida's Little Torch Key, adding it rescued nine people and was searching for five others.
Read more »
Amtrak coming back to MobileAn agreement has been struck to allow for passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast corridor, according to a statement. The service is set to include the connection from New Orleans to Mobile, with four stops likely in coastal Mississippi. Read more:
Read more »
This day in Houston history, Nov. 22, 1973: Distinctive Gulf sign to come down
Read more »