All aboard the Winter Park express, the 500+ seat Amtrak locomotive won't make skiing any cheaper but it will make the trip more enjoyable, especially if you're coming from DIA.
If you've been to Union Station early Saturday or Sunday morning you've probably seen droves of people lugging duffle bags, skis, or snowboards, lining up in front of Pigtrain Coffee to get a cup of morning buzz. A quick glance out of the western facing windows reveals shows their next destination - a large locomotive idling outside that reads "Amtrak Winter Park Express." [gallery ids="10716,10718"] For the first time since 2009 you can now go from Wynkoop to Winter Park, and for the first time ever you can go from DIA to Winter Park. Those of us that have been in Denver for a while probably remember the days of the ski train, and with drives to the mountains requiring 3 hours each way, we're happy to see it come back. Not to mention, who doesn't want to take a 90 minute jaunt through Colorado's backcountry? Talks of the ski trains' revival have been going on for quite some time, and finally after a 18 month negotiation between Union Pacific, Amtrak, and Winter Park the Winter Park Express is in full force. It's a hit too. When a trial service was offered in Spring of 2015, the tickets sold out within hours.
So why am I telling you all of this at the end of March of 2017? Demand, for the $39 ride (each way) is still high, with weekends selling out. That means if you want one last spring skiing escapade, and you want to take the rails, you may be better off waiting until next year. But don't forget to buy your tickets well in advance!
