All You Need to Know About the Alaska Railroad

Basic info about the Alaska Railroad

The Alaska Railroad is Alaska’s train line which opened over a hundred years ago. It runs from the center of Alaska near Fairbanks down to southern Alaska in Seward and runs in both directions.

It is not only a great way to get from one area of Alaska to another, it is a wonderful and very comfortable way to sight-see. In fact, some of the trains are primarily intended for sight-seeing. There are five different trains you can take on the Alaska Railroad, some of which run year-round and some run seasonally. The trains are:

• Coastal Classic – The Coastal Classic runs from Anchorage to Girdwood and Girdwood to Seward and in the opposite direction for both of those trips. Ticket prices vary based on the class of ticket you choose, what time of year that you are traveling and the age of the passenger. If one adult traveled from Anchorage to Seward round-trip during the summer with the regular class ticket the trip would cost just over $300.

  The Costal Classic only runs during the summer but a trip on this rail line does include some fantastic views of Alaska’s mountains and wilderness.

• Denali Star – The Denali Star runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks. That full trip is divided into separate trips from Anchorage to Wasilla, Wasilla to Talkeetna, Talkteena to Denali and Denali to Fairbanks. The line has the same division of stops going south as well.

  This is the most popular train on the Alaska Railroad. It only runs in the summer from May through September but that is more than enough time to take a few trips on the outstanding route. The route includes great views of rivers, mountains and canyons. As with the other Alaska Railroad trains, ticket prices will vary based on the type of class you pick, the passenger’s age and the time of year that you are traveling. If one adult traveled from Anchorage to Fairbanks in June with a roundtrip ticket it would cost $498.

• Glacier Discovery – The Glacier Discovery train is exactly what it sounds like, a train with a route where you will have breathtaking views of glaciers. The train runs from May to September travels from Anchorage to Whittier with several stops in and around Girdwood and Portage.

  The prices of the tickets for this train will vary based on the age of the passenger, the class of ticket that you choose and when you are traveling. If one adult took a round-trip on this line in June from Anchorage to Whittier, the ticket would cost $100.

• Hurricane Turn – The Hurricane Turn train runs year-round with a different route in both winter and summer. During the summer the train travels from Talkeetna to Hurricane with stops in Chase, Curry, Sherman, Gold Creek, Twin Bridges and Chulitna. In the winter the train travels from Anchorage to Hurricane with stops in Wasilla, Talkteena, Chase, Curry, Sherman, Gold Creek, Twin Bridges and Chulitna.

  The trip includes renowned and panoramic views of Alaska’s rivers and valleys. The prices of the tickets for this train will vary based on the age of the passenger, the class of ticket that you choose and when you are traveling. If one adult took a round-trip on this line in June from Talkeetna to Hurricane, the ticket would cost just over $100.

• Aurora Winter – As the name suggests, the Aurora Winter Train only runs during the winter and on weekends only. In December, February and March there is some select mid-week service but normally the train only runs on weekends during the winter. The train travels from Anchorage to Fairbanks with stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna, Hurricane, Healy and Nenana.

  As with all the other trains, ticket prices vary based on several factors. If one adult was going to take a round-trip on this train in January from Anchorage to Fairbanks it would cost $432.

Alaska Railroad’s route

The Alaska Railroad make stops at the following places on its route:

• Eielson Air Force Base
• Fairbanks
• Nenana
• Denali
• Talkeetna
• Wasilla
• Palmer
• Anchorage
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
• Girdwood
• Whittier
• Portage
• Grandview
• Seward

The railroad also includes several “flag stops” which are stops that are not scheduled but can be “flagged” by a passenger if they need to get off there. These stops include: Hurricane, Chulitna, Twin Bridges, Canyon, Gold Creek, Sherman, Deadhorse, Curry, and Chase.

The full route is 470 miles and would take over sixteen hours to get from Seward to Fairbanks. However, this would require a transfer and a likely layover.
 

Interesting facts about the Alaska Railroad

• There are several “event trains” that run during the year for special occasions. These trains include an Easter train, a kids Halloween train, a family fun train, a beer train and more. You can find more specific information on these trains here.
• Kids under two can ride for free but only if they sit on your lap. If you want them to have their own seat you will need to buy a kid’s ticket.
• Several trains feature glass dome seating for certain ticket levels, visit the Alaska Railroad Website for more information on how to get a seat in one of these cars.
• There are senior and military discounts available. Your best bet to get one of these rates, if you qualify, is to give them a call.
• Over the years, the Alaska Railroad has won awards from National Geographic Traveler, USA Today Travel, Trip Advisor, and the National Tour Association.

Conclusion

The Alaska Railroad is one of the most popular ways to see the great state of Alaska. It’s a cozy and comfortable trip yet it includes breathtaking and expansive views of much of Alaska’s natural beauty. The trains include some great amenities including dinning cars, comfortable seating and some even have bar cars. Do yourself a favor and be sure to take a trip on the Alaska Railroad as soon as you get the chance!