April 25, 2024 - TRA Newswire -

"We've been working on this for ten years and we're almost there", according to Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross, referring to reestablishing passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama.

While final details are being worked out in Mobile regarding the station platform and track, Ross said that he's shooting for October 2024 to commence passenger rail service and that Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose said it was his goal as well. Ross said that the host railroad has been very helpful in moving the project along.

Hear Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross' presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4so_BS9MrVs

The SRC is also deeply involved in developing several other passenger rail projects. They include two recent grants totaling $900,000 to advance service on the I-20 travel corridor from Dallas-Fort Worth to Meridian, Mississippi (Atlanta-east coast) and from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. 

Connecting New Orleans to Dallas is off in the future but is also included in the commission's long range plans.