A late-afternoon run of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service turned deadly Monday when a woman sitting on the tracks near Irvington, Alabama, was struck and killed by an eastbound train, according to Mobile County deputies. The train was traveling from Mobile to New Orleans and hit the woman at about 4:55 p.m., with roughly 56 passengers and crew on board and no reported injuries among them. After investigators cleared the scene, the train resumed its trip to New Orleans following a delay of about three hours.
Officials Describe Deadly ‘Contact’ With Woman On Tracks
In a statement to WALA, Amtrak said Train 25 “came into contact with” a person on CSX-owned tracks west of Mobile at about 4:55 p.m. The railroad said there were no reports of injuries to the approximately 56 passengers or crew onboard and that the train continued to New Orleans after a delay of about two hours and 51 minutes. Mobile County Sheriff’s deputies told reporters the woman had been sitting on the tracks and tried to get up as the train approached; Major Crimes deputies are investigating.
Worrying Pattern On The Mardi Gras Line
The Irvington collision is the latest deadly incident on Amtrak’s Gulf Coast Mardi Gras Service; NOLA.com reported this was the seventh death tied to the route since service resumed in August 2025. Local reporting previously flagged multiple earlier crashes this season, including a Feb. 21 collision in the Mobile area that killed a mother and her 8-year-old daughter and a March incident in Biloxi in which a man walking on the tracks was struck and killed. Those episodes, along with other near-misses, have pushed grade-crossing safety and enforcement back to the top of regional discussions about the route.
Safety Push And Local Response
Amtrak said it continues to work with safety group Operation Lifesaver to emphasize rail-safety messages, according to WALA. The Mardi Gras line has carried more than 100,000 riders in its first eight months on the Gulf Coast, as WLOX reported, and officials say that growth has increased urgency around targeted crossing upgrades. An April crash south of Mobile that briefly knocked part of a train off the rails helped restart calls for faster gate and signal work.
Investigators On Scene
Major Crimes deputies responded to the Irvington scene and investigators are working to determine the circumstances, as 1819 News reported. Authorities have not announced any criminal charges and are asking witnesses with video or information to contact investigators. Amtrak reiterated that passengers and crew were unharmed and that safety outreach remains a priority as the probe continues.
