DENVER — Following several years of growing ridership and sold-out trains on many weekends, this ski season’s version of Amtrak’s Winter Park Express will advance its previous January debut into December, and then will operate five days per week beginning Jan. 9.
The train will operate Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on Dec. 20-22, Dec. 27-29, and Jan. 3-5. After that it will, run Thursday through Monday between Jan. 9 and March 31, 2025.
The train of four Superliner coaches and a Sightseer lounge will thus generate more revenue and mobility by making 69 round trips this season compared with 40 last year. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari tells Trains News Wire that the consist could be expanded in January if demand warrants.
In addition, the train will travel beyond the special platform built for the seasonal service below the Winter Park Resort’s ski run to the stop at Fraser-Winter Park, Colo., the layover point for equipment and crew that is also served year-round by the Chicago-Emeryville, Calif., California Zephyr. The move expands the potential to attract non-skiers.
The westbound Express departs Denver at 7 a.m., almost two hours before the Zephyr is scheduled, with stops at the resort at 9:11 a.m. and Fraser-Winter Park at 9:41 a.m. After laying over there, the eastbound run leaves at 4:05 p.m., with a stop at the resort at 4:35 p.m. Arrival at Denver is 7:05 p.m.
One-way fares begin at $19 but rise as patronage increases. Children 2-12 ride for half fare. The train is sponsored in conjunction with the Winter Park Resort.
The Amtrak press release announcing the expanded service has links to additional information about group sales and lift tickets.
