"BR to NOLA Passenger Rail Set for Mid-2025 Launch"

A high-speed passenger train from Baton Rouge to New Orleans is tentatively scheduled for mid-2025, with funding in place and local support. The project aims to alleviate congestion on I-10 and provide an alternative evacuation route during storms. The service will initially offer two trips a day in the morning, with the possibility of adding more routes in the future. The train will run at 90 miles per hour and will include stations in Baton Rouge, including one in the health district for potential hospital evacuations. The state department of transportation will oversee the project, with Amtrak running the train under a contract with the state. There are also plans to extend the service to north Louisiana in the future.