After a seven-year absence, Winter Park and Amtrak are reviving weekend ski train service between the Grand County ski area and Denver’s Union Station. The Winter Park Express marks the return of the venerable ski train that ferried countless skiers between Denver and Winter between 1940 and 2009.
In March 2015 the Denver-owned ski resort and Amtrak sold out two weekends of train trips, offering more than 800 $75 round-trip, one-day tickets between Denver and Winter Park. The success of that one-time revival prodded Amtrak and Winter Park to negotiate with track owner Union Pacific to allow regular weekend service during the winter. It’s taken almost 18 months, but mid-winter weekend service is slated to return for the 2016-17 ski season.
Winter Park weekend train service between Denver and Winter Park began in 1940 and stopped in 2009, when Ski Train owner Philip Anschutz closed the business, citing declining profits, the cost of insurance and complexities of passenger service on the 62-mile stretch of rail heavily trafficked by freight trains.
Amtrak and Winter Park officials will announce details, schedules and ticket prices for the Winter Park Express at an event at the ski-area base on Thursday.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Toni Leuthold, hands skis to a skier as she helps unload skis and snowboards after the arrival of the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Pos
The Ski Train to Winter Park in 2007.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Bob Holme, an employee with Winter Park, helps off load skis and snowboards after the arrival of the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Jim Nau, electrician for the Rio Grande Ski Train, cleans off the windows of the Engine of the Ski Train for the winter season's first run up to Winter Park in 2008. The train, a Denver tradition since the 1940's has 17 cars with trips up to Winter Park Saturday and Sunday's through March.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Skiers and snowboarders head towards the ski area after getting off of the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Conductor Robert Doney prepares to shut the train doors to depart Winter Park after dropping off skiers and snowboarders riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Brent Lewis, The Denver Post
Denver's Union Station with the Winter Park Express ski train on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Conductor Robert Doney prepares to shut the train doors to depart Winter Park after dropping off skiers and snowboarders riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Skiers and snowboarders gather their skis and boards after getting off of the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train arrives through Moffat Tunnel at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Nick Kehrer, a maintenance worker for Winter Park, puts up 20 flags for the arrival of the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Skier Rachel holds little baby Kerry, 3 months, as the two prepare to head towards Winter Park after riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, Denver Post file
Val Hovland, right, laughs as young Emily Griffin, 4, says all the poles she tries to carry are too heavy as they head towards Winter Park after riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. Behind them are Hovland's husband Ram Sreerangam with young Kavi Hovland, 2 on his shoulders. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, Denver Post file
Skier Scott Bertolin of Boulder, head towards the ski area after picking up his skis with his family after riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Skier Gabriella Bertolin, 6, of Boulder, head towards the ski area after picking up her skis with her family after riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Skiers head towards the ski area after picking up their skis after riding the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train at Winter Park, Colorado on March 15, 2014. For the first time since 2009 the Amtrak Winter Park Resort Ski Train made two trips from Denver's Union Station to Winter Park Ski area. The two trips sold out in a matter of hours and officials at Amtrak hope to work out a way to have the ski train come back on an annual basis.
Brent Lewis, The Denver Post
Jack Rich unloads gear from the train Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Union Station in Denver, Colorado. This was the return for the first round trip for the Winter Park Express ski excursion train since the train was shut down in 2009.
Brent Lewis, Denver Post file
Skiers walk past the Ski Train after coming back from Winter Park on March 14, 2015, at Union Station in Denver.
Brent Lewis, The Denver Post
Ron Mical, Train Master, drops poles off in the pile of gear Saturday, March 14,2015 at Union Station in Denver, Colorado. This was the return for the first round trip for the Winter Park Express ski excursion train since the train was shut down in 2009.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
An old pair of wooden skis is mounted on a wall in one of the train cars of the Ski Train. The train, a Denver tradition since the 1940's has 17 cars with trips up to Winter Park Saturday and Sunday's through March.
