Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards was joined by Department of Transportation and Development Sec. Eric Kalivoda, Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gardner and other officials, to sign a service development agreement that will advance the return of intercity passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
“An Amtrak line connecting Louisiana’s capital to the largest metropolitan area in the state will have immense economic benefits for both cities and the parishes in between,” said Gov. Edwards. “Not only will this service potentially reduce the number of vehicles on the roadways which will result in less congestion, but it will also connect communities through employment opportunities and allow for more transportation options for festivals, sporting events, and concerts.”
The agreement, signed this morning at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, is a breakthrough for a project that has roots in 2008, when the idea was introduced through a concept study. According to the agreement, passenger service could start as early as 2027.
Amtrak will release schedules and fares at a later date closer to the launch of the new service.
Amtrak will use tracks currently in place and owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN railways. The tracks, which run along the I-10 corridor, are one of three routes that connect New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The CPKC/CNtracks were chosen because they were the most direct and had less conflict with freight transportation.
Infrastructure upgrades will begin in 2024 and can include replacing the existing CPKC rail bridge across the Bonnet CarreSpillway near Airline Highway pending the outcome of several federal discretionary grant applications submitted within the last year.
The new route will connect to the New Orleans to Mobile corridor projected to open in 2024. These routes will join the Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans, and Crescent lines in Amtrak’s Louisiana route schedule, all using the city-owned New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal and Amtrak facilities immediately to the west.
The last passenger train between Baton Rouge and New Orleans was the Southern Belle, which a railroad predecessor of CPKC was given permission to discontinue in November of 1969.
Residents can visit www.511la.org or download the 511 app for additional travel information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-800-ROAD-511 (1-800-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at www.dotd.la.gov by selecting MYDOTD or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.