Winter Park Ski Train Tickets

Well it looks like the Winter Park Ski Train will officially be back for it’s 70th year.  The Rio Grande Scenic Train is selling tickets for trips up to Winter Park /Mary Jane Resort.  They still need final approval from Amtrack but they are sure they will get it and you can now buy tickets.  We heard that there will be some positive changes in the operation of the train.  A Winter Park executive was overheard saying that the train will now accommodate destination and return travel on different days.  That means now you can come up from Union Station in Denver spend the night or a few nights and return on the train when you choose.  This makes the train an actual travel option for skiers other than the Denver Front Rangers.

Skiers and travelers can get more information about schedule, prices and options at 877.726.RAIL or the Winter Park Ski Train website.

The ski train is expected to run from December 27th to March 28th running around 50 trips between Denver’s Union Station and Winter Park Resort on weekends, holidays and some other weekdays.  Pricing looks to be $49.00 for a coach ticket up to $99.00 for a premium level ticket.  There will also be a limited food and beverage service.

Nice work on bringing the ski train back and hopefully with better operating rules so it can be enjoyed by all.

The Denver Post reported today that plans are almost finalized to bring back the Winter Park Ski Train for it’s 70th season of operation between Denver and Winter Park Resort.  Amtrak and Iowa Pacific got the go-ahead for Denver-to-Winter Park rail trips from Dec. 26 to March 28 from Union Pacific Railroad.  Union Pacific Railroad owns the track that the Ski Train runs on.

The operation would use Iowa Pacific trains that sit idle in the winter months and man them with Amtrak operational  staff.  The train would use Union Station in Lower Downtown Denver this year and then move to a temporary station the next three years while Union Station is remodeled as the Denver light rail hub.  Iowa Pacific runs the train in Southern Colorado in the summer months as tourist excursion trips in Alamosa, La Veta, Antonito and Monte Vista.

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company say YEAH to bringing back the train.  We would hope that they would allow tickets to be bought for different days of arrival and departure though.  How fun to be able to leave Denver spend three night on the slopes and return while never having to get in a car.  This is also good for the I-70 traffic that has become Los Angeles like on weekends in the winter months.