Gulf Coast Limited

Infobox Amtrak
name = Gulf Coast Limited
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numbers = 23 westbound
24 eastbound
route = New Orleans, LA – Mobile, AL
distance =
start = June 27, 1996
end = March 31, 1997
owners = CSXThe "Gulf Coast Limited" was a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It ran daily from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana, as train 23 and returned on the same route as train 24.

History

The "Gulf Coast Limited" originally began operating on April 29, 1984, in conjunction with the World's Fair in New Orleans. Regularly scheduled stops were made at five station locations with the train originating in Mobile, Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, Waveland, New Orleans East and terminating in New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal. The westbound train #23 departed Mobile at 7:00 a.m. and arrived in New Orleans at 10:40 a.m., with the eastbound train #24 departing New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. and arriving back in Mobile at 10:00 p.m.

Ridership on the trains far exceeded Amtrak’s projection of 23 passenger-miles per train-mile. During the five-month period of the World’s Fair in New Orleans, the train carried an average of 229 passengers a day. Responses to a week long on-board passenger survey undertaken by the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission in September 1984 indicated approximately 56% of all riders were traveling to or from the fair. An earlier survey conducted by Amtrak in June had resulted in estimated fair-related ridership of 76%. The rail commission survey also revealed that 95% of all passengers were traveling to or from New Orleans with approximately half coming from Mobile.

Although Amtrak had only required state funding sufficient to cover operating expenses during the period of the Louisiana World Exposition, when the fair closed on November 11, 1984, there was still adequate funding available to keep the trains running for nearly two more months. The States of Alabama and Louisiana each pledged a one-third share of matching funds required to keep the trains running. However, the State of Mississippi declined to renew its support resulting in the termination of trains #23 and #24, the Gulf Coast Limited on January 6, 1985.

Finally, after 10½ years of continued effort, the "Gulf Coast Limited" was brought back into service on an experimental basis. This was originally planned for a 90-day trial run. On June 27, 1996, the "Gulf Coast Limited" made its second inaugural run to and from Mobile. On June 28, trains #23 and #24 were back in daily service. The schedule allowed for a morning run from Mobile to New Orleans with an evening return trip back to Mobile. The scheduled stop at New Orleans East and Waveland were dropped in favor of stops in Mobile, Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis and New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal. The train proved to be successful and continued operating into 1997. However, the success story of the "Gulf Coast Limited" was once again cut short. Even though the trains proved to be a success, Amtrak discontinued the service after 9 months on March 31, 1997.

Consist

A usual consist on the 1996-1997 Gulf Coast Limited was:
* 1 F40PH, 1 P32BHW or 1 P40 Genesis locomotive
* 1 Superliner snack bar coach (phase 3 paint)
* 1 Superliner coach (phase 4 paint)

Occasionally during Saint's football season, Mardi Gras, Christmas shopping season, etc., the train would run with as many as 8 Superliner coaches and an occasional Superliner Sightseer Lounge.

References

* Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission [http://www.srrtc.org]