The Winter Park Ski Train is Back on Track
After a seven-year absence, Winter Park Resort and Amtrak are reviving the weekend ski train service between the resort and Denver’s Union Station. Beginning in 1940 and continuing for almost 70 years, the Winter Park Express transported countless skiers between Denver and Winter Park until it’s closure in 2009. Now the Winter Park ski train is back on track!
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Winter Park Resort, the ski train was revived last season for one weekend only with $75 round trip tickets. Encouraged by the fact the tickets sold out quickly, supporters dreamed for the return of the weekend train this season.
With a $1.5 M grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), a $100,000 grant from the City of Denver, a $100,000 grant from the Town of Winter Park, and $1,000 from the Colorado Rail Passengers Association, their dreams have come true. Amtrak, Winter Park, and Union Pacific, which owns the tracks, have signed a three-year deal for the ski train.
The train is scheduled to run on weekends from Jan. 7 to March 26, 2017. Trains will leave Denver’s Union Station at 7:00 a.m. and arrive at Winter Park at about 9:00 a.m. Return trains depart at 4:30 p.m. and arrive in Denver at 6:40 p.m. Trains will also run on Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day. The scenic 62-mile route takes two hours and includes the 6.2-mile-long Moffat Tunnel under the Continental Divide.
One-way tickets went on sale August 30th and 3,300 tickets sold at $39 each the first day. Ticket prices will rise to $49 and $59 once the early tickets are sold out. Travelers can select their departure and return dates, or take the train one-way only.
If you plan on taking the Winter Park Ski Train instead of battling traffic this ski season, book your tickets now for the best dates and prices. To save even more on your trip, don’t forget to buy your lift tickets in advance, too. You can also reserve affordable ski and snowboard rentals online, and your equipment will be ready for pick up at the base of the mountain when you arrive. You’ll not only save on more on the rentals, but you’ll travel lighter and enjoy the trip even more.