
One of the best ways to see the sights of Alaska is through a railroad tour! The Alaska Railroad is a railway that runs between Anchorage and Whittier and also from Anchorage to Fairbanks. On the southern Whittier route, the train also stops at Seward and on the northern route, it stops at Denali and Talkeetna. These tracks cover some of the most beautiful Alaskan countryside and the Alaska Railroad operates several scenic tours for tourists.
Taking an Alaska Railroad tour is one of the best ways to view some of the more remote locations in Alaska's vast countryside. You will not have to worry about where you will stay each night, because the tours include your hotel accommodations at luxury hotels. You will stop periodically along the route to get out and enjoy some of the scenery, as well as mingle with native Alaskans. When you park yourself in the observation car, you will be gazing on some of the most beautiful views in the northern hemisphere.
One of the most popular Alaskan train tours is offered by the Alaska Railroad and is called Alaska by Rail. This tour is designed for the railway enthusiast and takes riders through some of the local culture. You will explore the Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as the shoreline of Kenai. The train will take you into some of the interior areas of the state and you will revel in the wildlife of Denali National Park. One of the stops even allows travelers to ride a sternwheeler down the Fairbanks River! This is a nine-day tour, with eight nights in luxury hotels. It begins and ends in Anchorage.
For those interested in a natural experience, the Visit Denali Tour offered by the Alaska Railroad takes guests on a three-day trip through the massive national park. This is a great way to experience the mountains that Alaska is so famous for. Do not be surprised if you see a herd of caribou on this trip!
For the ultimate rail experience in Alaska, consider the Alaskan Odyssey trip. This is an eleven-day tour of the entire state, starting at the Pacific and ending at the Arctic. It takes visitors to all of the most famous Alaskan destinations and includes transportation by train, plain and bus. You will experience the midnight sun over the Arctic Ocean, the thrill of the Arctic National Park and the opportunity to see some of Alaska's wildlife in Denali National Park. This tour also takes you through the vast tundra, an experience you are sure to never forget.
The White Pass and Yukon Railroad offers tourist trips through the Alaska into the Yukon of Canada. This railway is historic, as it was built around the turn of the century during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. This trip takes you on cars that are recreations of the original cars through train stations that are also reminiscent of a time gone by. Like the other railway, you will enjoy the most stunning views on this trip and the cars have large windows for you to use to view the passing scenery. Each car is also equipped with outside viewing platforms that you can use to get a taste of fresh air.
Routes and Tourism
The railroad is a major tourist attraction in the summer. The Alaska railroad coach cars feature single-level seating throughout the train, with dome cars which are available for any passenger to enjoy. The wide windows on the cars and domes provide a great view to enjoy the Alaskan scenery. The Alaska Railroad began featuring GoldStar Service in 2005 which provides plush, luxury seating and dining for passengers willing to pay a moderate price. Private cars owned by the major cruise companies are towed behind the Alaska Railroad's own cars, and trips are included with various cruise packages.
*The Denali Star runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks (12 hours one-way) and back with stops in Talkeetna and Denali National Park, from which various flight and bus tours are available. Although the trip is only about 356 miles, it takes 12 hours to travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks as the tracks wind through mountains and valleys; the train's top speed is 59 miles per hour but sometimes hovers closer to 30 miles per hour.
*The Coastal Classic winds its way south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm before turning south to the Kenai Peninsula, eventually reaching Seward. This 114 mile journey takes around four and a half hours due to some slow trackage as the line winds its way over the mountains through switchbacks.
The Glacier Discovery provides a short (2 hour) journey south from Anchorage to Whittier for a brief stop before reversing direction for a stop at Grandview before returning to Anchorage in the evening.
*The Hurricane Turn provides rail service to people living between Talkeetna and the Hurricane area. This area has no roads, and the railroad provides the lifeline for residents who depend on the service to obtain food and supplies. One of the last flag-stop railway routes in the United States, passengers can board the Hurricane Turn anywhere along the route by waving a large white flag or cloth.
*The AuRoRa is available in winter months (September 15 - May 15) on a reduced weekend schedule (Northbound, Saturday mornings; Southbound, Sunday mornings) between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
*A new spur providing service to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is used during the summer season for cruise ship service only. It was recently activated, temporarily, during the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) convention to provide airport-to-hotel mass transit for delegates.
Taking an Alaska Railroad tour is one of the best ways to view some of the more remote locations in Alaska's vast countryside. You will not have to worry about where you will stay each night, because the tours include your hotel accommodations at luxury hotels. You will stop periodically along the route to get out and enjoy some of the scenery, as well as mingle with native Alaskans. When you park yourself in the observation car, you will be gazing on some of the most beautiful views in the northern hemisphere.
One of the most popular Alaskan train tours is offered by the Alaska Railroad and is called Alaska by Rail. This tour is designed for the railway enthusiast and takes riders through some of the local culture. You will explore the Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as the shoreline of Kenai. The train will take you into some of the interior areas of the state and you will revel in the wildlife of Denali National Park. One of the stops even allows travelers to ride a sternwheeler down the Fairbanks River! This is a nine-day tour, with eight nights in luxury hotels. It begins and ends in Anchorage.
For those interested in a natural experience, the Visit Denali Tour offered by the Alaska Railroad takes guests on a three-day trip through the massive national park. This is a great way to experience the mountains that Alaska is so famous for. Do not be surprised if you see a herd of caribou on this trip!
For the ultimate rail experience in Alaska, consider the Alaskan Odyssey trip. This is an eleven-day tour of the entire state, starting at the Pacific and ending at the Arctic. It takes visitors to all of the most famous Alaskan destinations and includes transportation by train, plain and bus. You will experience the midnight sun over the Arctic Ocean, the thrill of the Arctic National Park and the opportunity to see some of Alaska's wildlife in Denali National Park. This tour also takes you through the vast tundra, an experience you are sure to never forget.
The White Pass and Yukon Railroad offers tourist trips through the Alaska into the Yukon of Canada. This railway is historic, as it was built around the turn of the century during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. This trip takes you on cars that are recreations of the original cars through train stations that are also reminiscent of a time gone by. Like the other railway, you will enjoy the most stunning views on this trip and the cars have large windows for you to use to view the passing scenery. Each car is also equipped with outside viewing platforms that you can use to get a taste of fresh air.
Routes and Tourism
The railroad is a major tourist attraction in the summer. The Alaska railroad coach cars feature single-level seating throughout the train, with dome cars which are available for any passenger to enjoy. The wide windows on the cars and domes provide a great view to enjoy the Alaskan scenery. The Alaska Railroad began featuring GoldStar Service in 2005 which provides plush, luxury seating and dining for passengers willing to pay a moderate price. Private cars owned by the major cruise companies are towed behind the Alaska Railroad's own cars, and trips are included with various cruise packages.*The Denali Star runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks (12 hours one-way) and back with stops in Talkeetna and Denali National Park, from which various flight and bus tours are available. Although the trip is only about 356 miles, it takes 12 hours to travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks as the tracks wind through mountains and valleys; the train's top speed is 59 miles per hour but sometimes hovers closer to 30 miles per hour.
*The Coastal Classic winds its way south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm before turning south to the Kenai Peninsula, eventually reaching Seward. This 114 mile journey takes around four and a half hours due to some slow trackage as the line winds its way over the mountains through switchbacks.
The Glacier Discovery provides a short (2 hour) journey south from Anchorage to Whittier for a brief stop before reversing direction for a stop at Grandview before returning to Anchorage in the evening.
*The Hurricane Turn provides rail service to people living between Talkeetna and the Hurricane area. This area has no roads, and the railroad provides the lifeline for residents who depend on the service to obtain food and supplies. One of the last flag-stop railway routes in the United States, passengers can board the Hurricane Turn anywhere along the route by waving a large white flag or cloth.
*The AuRoRa is available in winter months (September 15 - May 15) on a reduced weekend schedule (Northbound, Saturday mornings; Southbound, Sunday mornings) between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
*A new spur providing service to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is used during the summer season for cruise ship service only. It was recently activated, temporarily, during the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) convention to provide airport-to-hotel mass transit for delegates.

