New Gulf Coast service (New Orleans - Mobile and Baton Rouge)

[cassie225]

Any updates on anything coming in or out of Baton Rouge. It seems here it Baton Rouge we get news then it abruptly stops

 

[jis]

The Gulf Coast Inspection Train happened seven years back. We might finally get service between New Orleans and Mobile this year. As for the rest, who knows?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Horizon cars were spotted on 59 recently . Speculation is that they’re for NOL to Mobile

 

[DonNewcomb]

Is there any information on the NOL/MOB schedules and start date?

I'd like to see a schedule, even if only tentative.

 

[GDRRiley]

Horizon cars were spotted on 59 recently . Speculation is that they’re for NOL to Mobile

How many? I'd expect Amtrak to bring at least 10 if not 12-14

 

[AmtrakBlue]

How many? I'd expect Amtrak to bring at least 10 if not 12-14

3 a day or two ago

 

[cassie225]

Any speculation on how long the trip will be on Amtrak NOL to Mobile. Wonder what the scenery will be like. I will take that train if it’s not a long ride

 

[jiml]

Any speculation on how long the trip will be on Amtrak NOL to Mobile. Wonder what the scenery will be like. I will take that train if it’s not a long ride

That's a good point. I'm looking forward to seeing the schedule to find out if a day trip from Mobile to New Orleans will be possible. If so, it will be on the list for next year since Mobile is only a 2-hour drive from here. (This will be more for the train experience/beignet run than visiting New Orleans.) Also hoping for secure parking in Mobile.

 

[railiner]

Any speculation on how long the trip will be on Amtrak NOL to Mobile. Wonder what the scenery will be like. I will take that train if it’s not a long ride

That's a good point. I'm looking forward to seeing the schedule to find out if a day trip from Mobile to New Orleans will be possible. If so, it will be on the list for next year since Mobile is only a 2-hour drive from here. (This will be more for the train experience/beignet run than visiting New Orleans.) Also hoping for secure parking in Mobile.

Here’s the last version in 1996/7

http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19961110n&item=0031

 

[jis]

The Southern Rail Commission Amtrak study also had the New Orleans - Mobile service pegged at a 3 hour 15 minute or so run each way.

 

[DonNewcomb]

Any speculation on how long the trip will be on Amtrak NOL to Mobile. Wonder what the scenery will be like. I will take that train if it’s not a long ride

It will be pretty similar to riding along US-90, which it parallels for most of the route. Some long stretches through the marsh coming out of New Orleans.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

New Orleans – Mobile - Amtrak Connects US says 3:18 here

 

[west point]

Maybe that will make Amtrak connect easier to go to Montgomery? Either or both from Mobile and ATL.

 

[DonNewcomb]

Does anyone know if there have been any recent test runs? I live about 3 miles from the CSX line through coastal Mississippi and I keep listening for the higher pitched Amtrak horns. When you're listening for it every horn sounds like what you want to hear.

 

[Agent]

Astra Rail Photography posted this video yesterday of a test train arriving at the Gulfport, Mississippi station. The test train consists of two ALC-42 Chargers book-ending a single Horizon coach.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

Astra Rail Photography posted this video yesterday of a test train arriving at the Gulfport, Mississippi station. The test train consists of two ALC-42 Chargers book-ending a single Horizon coach.

Hmm. I wonder if this is going to be the final consist or if this is just the tester? A single Horizon straddled by to ALCs doesn't seem like much of a train.

 

[DonNewcomb]

Astra Rail Photography posted this video yesterday of a test train arriving at the Gulfport, Mississippi station. The test train consists of two ALC-42 Chargers book-ending a single Horizon coach.

That's great progress. Unfortunately the horns don't sound that much different (to my ears) from the usual CSX locos. I may have been in downtown Gulfport at that time but missed it.

 

[Hytec]

Any rumors as to when service will begin?

 

[jis]

Hmm. I wonder if this is going to be the final consist or if this is just the tester? A single Horizon straddled by to ALCs doesn't seem like much of a train.

No. It will have a different consist for commercial service.

 

[NativeSon5859]

I took these today in Bay St. Louis. This one was heading to New Orleans.

 

[joelkfla]

I took these today in Bay St. Louis. This one was heading to New Orleans.

Sure looks odd, that one little old car sandwiched between 2 modern engines.

 

[Brian_tampa]

That trainset definitely did not come down to New Orleans on the old IC from Chicago! It would not have met the axle count required by CN nowadays in Illinois.

 

[Anthony V]

That trainset definitely did not come down to New Orleans on the old IC from Chicago! It would not have met the axle count required by CN nowadays in Illinois.

It came to the Gulf Coast as a deadhead equipment move coupled to the City of New Orleans.

 

[DonNewcomb]

I took these today in Bay St. Louis. This one was heading to New Orleans.

What time did it pass Bay St. Louis? I may look for it in Gulfport tomorrow.

 

[NativeSon5859]

What time did it pass Bay St. Louis? I may look for it in Gulfport tomorrow.

11:45am in Bay St. Louis. So maybe, what… around 11:25 in GPT?