Southern Rail Commission

What Southern Rail Commission does

The Southern Rail Commission (SRC) is a government-established interstate rail compact authorized by legislation in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to coordinate passenger rail development across the Gulf South region. Founded in 2011, SRC's mandate is to advocate for, plan, and secure federal funding for passenger rail corridors that were disrupted after Hurricane Katrina destroyed Gulf Coast rail infrastructure in 2005. The organization does not develop technology products and does not directly operate rail service; its role is as a multi-state coordinating body sitting between the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Amtrak, freight railroads (CSX, CPKC), state departments of transportation, and local municipalities.

SRC's flagship product is the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, a twice-daily passenger rail route launched on August 18, 2025 between New Orleans and Mobile with intermediate stops in Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. The service carries riders for fares starting at $15 each way and features onboard Wi-Fi, locally sourced menu items, and cafe service. Two additional corridors are in active development: the Baton Rouge to New Orleans Rail Project (supported by a $20M RAISE grant and $500K CIDP grant) and the proposed I-20 Corridor connecting Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta through Northern Louisiana. SRC also administers the FRA Station Grants Program for station planning, construction, and accessibility improvements at stations across member states.

SRC's business model is government-grant funded rather than commercially revenue-generating. Cumulative federal and matching funds for Gulf Coast infrastructure and operations total approximately $66 million, drawn from CRISI, Restoration and Enhancement, RAISE, CIDP, and Interstate Rail Compacts programs, with matching contributions from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, the City of Mobile, and Amtrak. Ticket revenue from the Mardi Gras Service accrues to Amtrak, not to SRC. End users of the rail service span three customer segments: tourists and event attendees (Mardi Gras, Saints games, Cruisin' The Coast), regional residents commuting between cities, and Gulf Coast communities seeking economic development and tourism enhancement. In nine months post-launch, the Mardi Gras Service carried over 115,000 passengers, generated nearly $4 million in ticket sales, and posted a 96% customer satisfaction rate, the highest of any Amtrak route nationwide.

Name

Southern Rail Commission

Legal name

Southern Rail Commission

Website

https://southernrailcommission.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Southern Rail Commission is a government interstate rail compact coordinating passenger rail development across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, having launched Amtrak Mardi Gras Service in 2025 after securing over $66 million in federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Rail Planning & Advocacy

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO)

Keywords

• Passenger rail advocacy
• Interstate rail commission
• Rail corridor planning
• Federal grant administration
• Gulf coast transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grant Funding: The SRC receives federal funding through programs like the Interstate Rail Compacts Program, CRISI grants, Restoration and Enhancement grants, and RAISE grants. These funds support commission administration, rail corridor planning, and passenger rail promotion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Southern Rail Commission (SRC) is a multi-state government body that advocates for, plans, and secures federal funding for passenger rail service restoration and expansion across the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It coordinates between federal agencies (FRA, DOT), Amtrak, freight railroads (CSX, CPKC), state departments of transportation, and local municipalities to develop rail corridors and administer federal grant programs for station construction, infrastructure improvements, and operating support.

Product overview

Southern Rail Commission is a regional rail advocacy organization that coordinates passenger rail service development across Gulf Coast states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi). The organization's primary product portfolio centers on Amtrak Mardi Gras Service - a twice-daily intercity rail service launched in August 2025 connecting New Orleans and Mobile. Additional planned services include the Baton Rouge to New Orleans rail corridor and the I-20 Corridor connecting Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta. SRC also administers FRA Station Grants to support infrastructure improvements at rail stations across member states. The commission acts as a coordinating body between federal agencies (FRA), Amtrak, freight railroads, and state/local governments rather than operating rail services directly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amtrak Mardi Gras Service A twice-daily intercity passenger rail service connecting New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, with stops in Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Named after the region's Mardi Gras celebrations, the service aims to boost local economies, enhance tourism, and reconnect Gulf Coast communities.
• Baton Rouge to New Orleans Rail Project Proposed twice-daily passenger rail service with stops in Baton Rouge downtown and Health District, Gonzales, LaPlace, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans. Part of the Gulf Coast Corridor, one of the nation's eleven federally-designated high-speed rail corridors.
• I-20 Corridor Passenger Rail Proposed passenger rail service connecting Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta mega-regions through Northern Louisiana, with connections to Amtrak's Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, and Crescent trains.
• FRA Station Grants Program Federal Railroad Administration grant program administered by SRC to support station planning, construction, and accessibility improvements for communities along Gulf Coast rail corridors, including grants to Gulfport, Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula, and Birmingham.
• Amtrak Mardi Gras Service Limited-Release Merchandise Collection Limited-run merchandise collection for Mardi Gras season tied to the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, including can cooler, belt bag, T-shirt, and two cap styles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% customer satisfaction rate, highest of any Amtrak route
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AmtrakcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 August 2025Amtrak operates the Mardi Gras Service between New Orleans and Mobile. SRC worked with Amtrak for decades to restore Gulf Coast passenger rail service. Amtrak provides train operations, booking infrastructure, and service management.
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)coreOthers · 7 June 2019FRA administers grant programs including CRISI and Restoration & Enhancement grants. The agency supported the Gulf Coast Working Group study and provides regulatory oversight for passenger rail service.
• Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPKC owns tracks along the I-20 Corridor and has committed to working with Amtrak and SRC on passenger rail expansion. Following STB approval of the CP-KCS merger, CPKC committed to funding infrastructure improvements along routes.
• CSX TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSX hosts the Gulf Coast passenger rail service on their mainline between New Orleans and Mobile. Settlement agreement reached in 2022 allowed for passenger rail restoration.
• Alabama Department of TransportationcoreOthersALDOT is a key partner in coordinating rail service restoration and Birmingham-to-Montgomery-to-Mobile expansion.
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD)coreOthersLADOTD is pursuing federal funds and conducting environmental studies for the Baton Rouge to New Orleans corridor.
• Mississippi Department of TransportationcoreOthersMDOT has provided matching funds and coordinated passenger rail planning for Mississippi Gulf Coast stations.
• Transportation for AmericamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerT4America assisted SRC with grant applications for Gulf Coast passenger rail restoration and corridor development.
• City of MobilecoreOthersCity of Mobile approved funding and lease agreement with Amtrak for station development. Mayor Stimpson and City Council were key champions.
• Surface Transportation Board (STB)coreOthersFederal regulatory board that approved passenger rail access and settlement agreement between Amtrak and freight railroads for Gulf Coast service.
• Gulf Regional Planning CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning organization collaborating on safety education campaigns and rail corridor planning.
• Operation LifesaverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRail safety education program partnering with SRC and Amtrak for public safety campaigns along the Gulf Coast.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Amtrak: National passenger rail operator that actually runs the Mardi Gras Service on SRC's behalf. Comparable as the operating partner and de facto service provider for SRC's flagship corridor, with far broader national scope.

Emerging players

• Brightline: Private-sector passenger rail operator developing intercity service in Florida and toward Las Vegas. Comparable as a passenger rail developer/operator targeting regional city pairs in the Sun Belt with similar tourism/leisure demand profile.
• Amtrak Texas (formerly Texas Central): Passenger rail initiative connecting Dallas and Houston, now under Amtrak's umbrella. Comparable as a Southern passenger rail project pursuing corridor development and federal partnership, with similar mega-region connectivity thesis.

Others

• Rail Passengers Association: National nonprofit advocacy organization for passenger rail expansion and ridership. Comparable as an advocacy counterpart that influences federal rail policy, though operating at national rather than regional scale.

Direct peers

• California High-Speed Rail Authority: State agency planning and developing high-speed passenger rail in California. Comparable as a publicly-authorized rail entity pursuing corridor development, federal funding, and stakeholder coordination — though at materially larger scale.
• Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission: Multi-state interstate compact that promotes and coordinates passenger rail service across the Midwest. Highly comparable organizational structure to SRC, with similar mandate of advocacy, planning, and coordination among member states.
• Northeast Corridor Commission: Federal-state compact coordinating passenger rail along the NEC between Washington, D.C. and Boston. Directly comparable to SRC as an interstate governance body for passenger rail planning, funding advocacy, and stakeholder coordination.
• Virginia Passenger Rail Authority: State political subdivision that owns and expands passenger rail infrastructure and services in Virginia, including the Transforming Rail in Virginia program. Comparable as a state-level passenger rail development authority pursuing federal grants and corridor expansion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/southernrailcms
• Facebookfacebook.com/southernrailcms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Rail Commission