DENVER — Increased frequency and capacity and lower prices have led to a significant boost in ridership for Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train.
Colorado Public Radio reports that one-way tickets were priced as low as $19, thanks to use of a state fee on rental car funds designated for rail projects. Trains were also lengthened and the number of operating days were increased from 40 to 69 [see “Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train expands …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 4, 2024]. The result? More than 41,000 bookings this season compared to about 16,000 last year, Piper Darlington, director of the Colorado Transportation Investment Office, told the state’s Transportation Commission at a Thursday meeting. The train concludes its season March 31.
“This was really a great quick win,” Darlington said, calling the ski train “someplace where we could invest those new congestion impact fees to get people excited about the expanded train service.”
Darlington said the state hopes to expand the ski train partnership with Amtrak and Winter Park Resort. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told CPR that Amtrak is “happy to see the state’s confidence in the route proven by these ridership numbers.”
The Winter Park Express launched in 2016, reviving rail service to the trackside Winter Park Resort that the Denver & Rio Grande Western and successor operators ran until 2009. Service has gradually but continually improved since, with the addition of a lounge car in 2018 and a slow but steady increase in the number of operating dates.
Rode it a week ago. Comparable fare on a shuttle to the Denver airport is over $100. Route is also beautiful with 5 mile long Moffat tunnel right at Winter Park and another 25 or so shorter ones. Nice touch to have volunteer car hosts in each car.