Passenger rail advocates promote two routes in Louisiana

When Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis rode Amtrak's new Mardi Gras line between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, last month, he saw a lot of smiling faces inside and outside of the train.

“In Pascagoula (Mississippi), there were hundreds of people waiting to greet us,” he said. “On the route, people were outside little burger joints or in their boats on the water waving at the passing train.”

Ellis said the ride was proof that even in a region of the country known for its love of the open road, there also is an appreciation for passenger rail.

“You can’t fake that kind of enthusiasm,” he said.

Now that the Gulf Coast service has been restored , regional train advocates are aiming their lobbying efforts at the next two routes on their wish list: a long-sought connection between New Orleans