Regular Amtrak service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., began on August 18, nearly 20 years after passenger service east of the Big Easy was discontinued. 

An inaugural run for VIPs was made on Saturday, August 16, to preview the service, before the twice-daily runs started on Monday. The trains leave New Orleans and Mobile in the morning and evening. 

Amtrak last operated east of New Orleans in 2005, until Hurricane Katrina damaged the route between there and Mobile. Although freight service was eventually restored, passenger service never resumed. It took years of negotiations with Amtrak and the two host railroads, Norfolk Southern and CSX, to get the track back. 

—Railfan & Railroad Staff