Alaska Railroad · Scenic rail route

Aurora Winter Train

Winter scenic rail journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks on Alaska Railroad

Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train covers the route between Anchorage and Fairbanks in a single 12-hour ride, running weekends from mid-September to mid-May, with select mid-week departures added in over the winter. Northbound trains run on Saturdays and southbound on Sundays. Along the way the train stops in Wasilla and Talkeetna, provides flagstop service across 50 miles of roadless backcountry south of Hurricane Gulch, then stops as needed at Healy and Nenana before reaching Fairbanks. Seating is Adventure Class, with large picture windows and onboard dining, and on a clear day passengers can see Denali rise above the Susitna River. The trip suits travellers heading to Alaska for winter aurora viewing, the Fur Rendezvous or the Iditarod, who plan to arrange their own lodging, dogsledding or flightseeing add-ons in Talkeetna or Fairbanks.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator publishes no day-by-day itinerary for this route, only the stops along the way and the overall journey time.
  • Dogsledding in Talkeetna and winter Denali flightseeing are listed as optional extras, not included in the train fare.

Questions travellers ask

Is this an escorted tour or just train transportation?
The evidence describes it as Alaska Railroad's scheduled winter train service between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Add-on tours in Talkeetna and Fairbanks, such as dogsledding or flightseeing, are separate bookings.
Which train runs this route?
The Aurora Winter Train, with Adventure Class seating, large picture windows and onboard dining.
How long is the journey?
About 12 hours travelling north from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
When does the Aurora Winter Train run?
Weekends from mid-September to mid-May, north on Saturdays and south on Sundays, with select mid-week departures added in.
What stops does the train make?
Wasilla and Talkeetna, flagstop service across 50 miles of roadless backcountry south of Hurricane Gulch, then Healy and Nenana before Fairbanks.

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