John Hilbert stood by the railroad tracks at the Bay St. Louis station on a sweltering Gulf Coast morning, waiting. He was part of a small crowd of residents, travelers, tourism officials and city leaders gathered Monday to welcome the first passengers rolling in from New Orleans on Amtrak's newest rail line.

Amtrak introduced twice-daily Mardi Gras service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., marking a return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast rail route after nearly 20 years.

The passenger rail service between New Orleans and Mobile made its inaugural run Saturday, featuring jazz bands, beads and MoonPies at stations along the route before public service begins Monday.