Great news for those aching to see parts of Alaska that you can only reach by rail — the Alaska Railroad is returning to its prepandemic schedule for this summer, reports Travel + Leisure. The railroad has been chugging since 1923 – next year will be the centennial of the completion of the track. Now it’s back to full bore, including bringing passengers to areas not accessible any other way, such as parts of the Chugach National Forest, a nearly seven million-acre forest in south central Alaska.
The train lines themselves have evocative names, like the Hurricane Turn Train which goes from Talkeetna to Hurricane, with beautiful views along the way of Denali, the Indian River Valley and Hurricane Gulch, and the Glacier Discovery Train which covers the route from Anchorage to Grandview, permitting stops for day cruises in Prince William Sound or exploring the Spencer Glacier, or just sitting still for a jaw-dropping ride through incredible landscapes. These bright blue and yellow trains also include the Coastal Classic, the Denali Star, and the Aurora Winter lines.
There are two classes of service, the ‘adventure class’ and the ‘goldstar service class,’ with fares significantly discounted for the former. On certain trains, the Goldstar Dome Service passengers receive on-board dining in four-person booths with linens and silver. Upstairs (these cars are wheelchair accessible on both levels), you will sit in reserved seating beneath full-length dome windows with 360-degree views, all seats facing forward. The seating is in wide chairs in a row of four with an aisle down the middle. This upper level also has an outdoor seating platform and bar area to enjoy a cocktail with the insane views. Throughout the trip, a narrator provides commentary on what’s being seen. This upper level experience is only for goldstar passengers, although adventure class riders can use the dining car.
Some trains offer whistle stop service which includes an optional interpretive US Forest Service ranger talk at Glacier overlook. Sounds like an exhilarating bucket-list adventure we can start to check off our list.