ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Railroad’s 2018-19 winter schedule includes increased operation of its Aurora Winter Train, as well as new Thanksgiving holiday service and increased operations for spring break travel.
The Aurora Winter Train, which began operation in September, will run through mid-May, traveling from Anchorage to Fairbanks on Saturdays and returning on Sundays. This marks the fifth year the railroad has increased its winter service to meet continuing demand.
This will be the first time the railroad offers the Thanksgiving service, with a northbound train to Fairbanks on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and a southbound train on Wednesday, Nov. 21. There will also be additional service in December and January around Christmas and New Year’s Day.
The spring break additions will see increased departures in February as well as six-day-a-week service in March.
For additional details, visit the Alaska Railroad website or call 800-544-0552.
When did it get renamed from the “AuRoRa.”
Railroad Alaska is a very interesting series. It airs in Germany on DMAX in the event you plan to visit here anytime soon and get lucky while checked into your hotel. Sad but true, it isn’t always safe to go outdoors at night here anymore.
Joe. Yes, it is.
Is this the same train that carries peopll that live off the grid, as shown on the tv show Railroad Alaska?
Tourist orientated or not, Way Up North, looks like the Alaska Railroad knows how to move passengers. Perhaps it’s time for Amtrak and VIA to take notes?
The schedule is such that it is hard for many locals to use it for practical purposes. If one lives in Anchorage there are a number of travel options. And the train offers the only access to some remote locations. But I live in Fairbanks, and the limited days of the winter train makes it difficult to use, unless combined with a flight or car ride one way. The ride is great summer or winter, though.
Some of the winter trains have been pretty big, also. I rode a short distance last spring around Denali Park (one way; my wife drove to pick me up), and there were over 300 passengers on board! The vast majority were tourists from out of state, though.
Do locals ride it , or is it purely for tourists ?