I am personally affected by the suspension of the Sunset Limited train service between New Orleans and Jacksonville since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This service was a vital link for many, including myself, providing an affordable and reliable mode of transportation across states. The discontinuation has caused significant inconvenience to thousands of passengers who relied on this service.

The Sunset Limited was one of Amtrak's most popular long-distance services, running three times a week in each direction. It served numerous small communities along its route that have limited transportation options. Since its suspension, these communities have been left with fewer options to travel long distances.

Reestablishing this route is not just about restoring a train service; it's about reconnecting communities, supporting local economies, and providing accessible transportation for all. The Federal Railroad Administration reports that rail travel is more energy-efficient than cars or airplanes (Federal Railroad Administration). Reinstating this line could also contribute positively to our environment by reducing carbon emissions.

In terms of the rest of the route for the restoration of Florida Panhandle service, Amtrak stated that their "focus has been on restoring service from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama," and they would be "willing to explore such service [on the Florida Panhandle] with the state’s financial support." The mayors and city councils of Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Lake City have shown much interest in resuming the service. The corridor would eventually need to be upgraded for speeds greater than 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), and some of the stations require refurbishment or replacement.

As time has passed, particularly since the January 2006 completion of the rebuilding of damaged tracks east of New Orleans by their owner CSX Transportation, the obstacles to restoration of the Sunset Limited's full route have been more managerial and political than physical. Advocates for the train's restoration have pointed to revenue figures for Amtrak's fiscal year 2004, the last full year of coast-to-coast Sunset Limited service. During that period, the Orlando–New Orleans segment accounted for 41% of the Sunset's revenue.

Section 226 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 16, 2008, gave Amtrak nine months to provide Congress with a plan for restoring service that "shall include a projected timeline for restoring such service, the costs associated with restoring such service, and any proposals for legislation necessary to support such restoration of service."

In January 2016, Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission announced jointly that a Gulf Coast passenger railinspection trip was to be made from New Orleans to Jacksonville, with elected officials among those on board during the February 18–19 excursion. Stops were planned for all of the stations formerly part of the Sunset Limited's route between those two cities.[21] In June 2018, the commission missed the deadline for submitting a request for service restoration along the Gulf. It said that it could not apply for the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) fiscal-year 2017 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety and Improvements (CRISI) funding because Alabama and Mississippi were unwilling to assist with funds. Alabama's share would have been $5.3 million. The Louisiana governor, on the other hand, was willing to provide the funds. The three states' cooperation was needed to secure the $35.5 million in federal CRISI funds.

On February 23, 2021, following the conclusion of one year of negotiations with CSX and Norfolk Southern, Amtrak officials announced that a new Gulf Coast corridor service between New Orleans and Mobile would start as early as January 2022.

Amtrak plans to pay for all repairs along the route

In late 2022, with lengthy negotiations with Norfolk Southern and CSX, Amtrak expected, the Gulf Coast service was projected to begin sometime in 2023.

However, in early August 2023, it was reported that an agreement between Amtrak, CSX, and the city of Mobile on the design and construction of the station there had not yet been reached, and that the service was now not expected to start until the first quarter of 2024.

In late August the working name of the train was reported to be Mardi Gras Service.

As of February 2024, negotiations between Amtrak and the city of Mobile are ongoing and a new service start date has not been announced.

We ask Brightline and relevant authorities to consider establishing a high speed train service between Mobile Alabama and Jacksonville as soon as possible. Your signature can help bring back this essential service that so many people rely on for their mobility needs. Please sign this petition today!