| Gulf Coast Limited | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service type | Inter-city rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Discontinued | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | United States Gulf Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | April 29, 1984 June 27, 1996 |
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| Last service | January 6, 1985 March 31, 1997 |
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| Former operator(s) | Amtrak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start | New Orleans, Louisiana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. of intermediate stops | 5 (1984-85) 4 (1996-97) |
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| End | Mobile, Alabama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 145 miles (233 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 3 hours 40 minutes (1984-85) 3 hours 10 minutes (1996-97) |
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| Service frequency | Daily | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train number(s) | 23,24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-board services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) | Unreserved coach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catering facilities | Cafe lounge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner(s) | SBD (1984-85) CSX (1996-97) |
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The Gulf Coast Limited was a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the southern United States. It ran daily from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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The Gulf Coast Limited operated over a 145-mile (233 km) route from New Orleans to Mobile, hugging the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The majority of this route is now owned by CSX Transportation (NO&M Subdivision), save a few miles around the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal and East City Junction, which are owned by Amtrak and the Norfolk Southern Railway, respectively.[1]:ES.2
The Gulf Coast Limited grew out of a feasibility study conducted by the Louisiana-Mississippi-Alabama Rapid Rail Transit Commission in the early 1980s. The study sought a commuter rail service centered on New Orleans linking Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Slidell, Louisiana or Mobile, Alabama. In the end the Commission opted for a New Orleans—Mobile service, prompted in part by the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. The three states entered into a 403(b) arrangement with Amtrak; under this provision Amtrak undertakes to operate a service but the contracting states subsidize most of the cost. The first train ran on April 29, 1984.[2]
In the fall Amtrak explored extending the Gulf Coast Limited from Mobile to Birmingham, Alabama (a route later served by the Gulf Breeze), but did not alter the train's route.[3] Service ended in January 1985 after Mississippi declined to continue its support.[4]:164
The Gulf Coast Limited was also the name of a train operated by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad between New York and the west coast of Florida.[5]:127