A staff member announced at a Mobile City meeting that Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service will begin Monday, Aug. 18, with tickets available immediately and daily trains departing New Orleans and Mobile in the mornings and again in the afternoons.

The announcement matters because, as the speaker put it, the new service is the first regular opportunity to travel by train on the Gulf Coast in nearly 20 years and could contribute to activity along the city’s waterfront.

“I’m happy to say that we are here today to finally announce our Amtrak Mardi Gras service,” the staff member said. “We’ll begin on Monday, August 18. As of this morning, tickets are now available.”

The speaker said the schedule is online at amtrak.com/mardigras and described daily departures from both New Orleans and Mobile, with trips offered each morning and again each afternoon. “Our guests will finally have the first opportunity to travel by train on the Gulf Coast in nearly 20 years,” the staff member said.

The speaker also referenced a recent ceremonial event, saying, “last week, we were very fortunate to open up the, have a ribbon cutting for the Hall of Fame Walk, and having Amtrak come back just helps add to the activation of the waterfront.”

The transcript contains the announcement and these remarks; no motions, votes or formal actions related to the service were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.