MOBILE, Ala. — Two ongoing questions about Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service — when it will begin and what the New Orleans-Mobile trains will be called — remained unanswered during a Tuesday, Oct. 22, groundbreaking ceremony for a station platform and layover track in Mobile.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose were among officials on hand for the ceremony at the former site of Mobile’s Amtrak station, destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Acknowledging the lengthy process of restarting the train, Buttigieg told AL.com there is a need for a better way to “align our processes” in dealing with multiple layers of government as well as private companies. Amtrak announced in 2021 that it planned to start the service the following year, although that was a unilateral announcement the company said was driven by five years of negotiations without a conclusion [see “Amtrak seeks to start New Orleans-Mobile service …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 26, 2021]. A case before the Surface Transportation Board, a still-confidential agreement between Amtrak and the host railroads, and lengthy negotiations with Mobile over the station site and funding have all contributed to pushing back the start of service, now projected for some time in 2025.
“My experience is the more players involved, the longer it takes to do something,” Buttigieg said. “You have a situation here that is multi-state, public and private, federal and local, and each layer means you have to go through more folks to get a decision.”
The groundbreaking was for a 3,000-foot siding for Amtrak trains and a station platform but not a station itself; Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson told Al.com the city has a design to pursue but will wait to see if Amtrak service succeeds.
“If we have a real need for it, then we’ll spend the money at that time,” Stimpson told the news site. “I will take city money and grant money. The prudent thing is to make sure the thing is successful.”
Wonder if they can get it done in 3 months to have it ready for Super Bowl weekend. Probably NOT.
While New Orleans has more than enough hotel/motel rooms, a lot of people stay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for Major events. Studies show that 15-20% of Sugar Bowl patrons stay over there because its hotels are cheaper and less crime worries.
Mobile drags it’s feet when they aren’t enthusiastic on a project. On the other hand Mobile is all in, it’s like we turned the first shovel of dirt at 7:00 this morning and they are already complaining that it wasn’t finished yesterday.
A more realistic timetable is Summer or Fall of 2025. Great missed opportunity.
Interesting post. Thank you. Curious if the casinos in Biloxi have or wish to have “skin in the game”.
Have to hope the building is built to with stand a 150 MPH hurricane winds. As well all the electrical as possible is installed as high as possible to mitigate any storm surge? Anyone know the specs?
My opinion? Just abandon the whole wretched mess. Why impose into a market where the service is greeted by a lukewarm reception from most of the parties involved.
So this is supposed to be a temporary platform, as it is pre-fabricated aluminum and has no seating, canopy structure, shady landscaping, or other facilities. I do have to wonder if everyone realizes this yet. It is so interesting that the environmental review of possible items below the surface of the recently constructed parking lot (~2011) has held up installing what is admitted to be a temporary platform due to the public funding. However, tearing down the original mid-50’s station building was done with in (~2007) with limited review or protest by I believe a private party. Yes – the planning process is getting a little too encumbered.
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4D2K_LN_Depot_Mobile_Alabama
Good to see that Mayor Stimpson is brimming with enthusism. Bodes well for the future.
CSX will need maybe to order and transport the specialized turnout to the location of the turnout. As well a control bungalow and exit signal mast for the turnout. Then two signal masts one in each direction for the mainline. Install conduit, wiring for the masts and turnout motor. Wire, test, & verify that it will work.
As well, at same time install the siding tracks, turnout when it arrives then maybe service can start even before platform is complete depending on how quickly CSX can do its work?