Winter Park Express Offers Expanded Service and Significantly Cheaper Tickets for Winter 2024-25 - SnowBrains

WINTER PARK — Today, the Winter Park Express (WPE), operated by Amtrak, announced in cooperation with the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation, that it will kick off the 2025 season with expanded service five days a week, launching on Thursday, January 9, 2025. To offer even more convenience and to meet demand, the Winter Park Express will also offer a special expanded holiday service on December 20-22 and Dec. 27-29, 2024. Regular expanded service will run Thursday through Monday, from January 9 through March 31, 2025. Tickets, with a significantly lower price this year, go on sale today, Monday, November 4.

“The Winter Park Express is a great opportunity for Coloradans and visitors to explore our mountains without the hassle of driving or traffic. Now with expanded service and lower costs, Coloradans can save time and money on our way to enjoying our great outdoors. I look forward to taking the train into the mountains this season.”

– Governor Jared Polis.

Winter Park Resort offers its expanded and improved WPE through cooperation and partnership with the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Tickets for this year’s Winter Park Express range from $19 to $39, and children 2 to 12 are eligible for 50% off base fares. These fare prices are 43% lower than previous years’ fares and will be available beginning today.

Passenger rail along the Front Range and through the U.S. Highway 40 mountain corridor is an important priority for Coloradans and the Polis-Primavera administration. The Winter Park Express shows public demand for more mass transit options through the mountains and beyond. The rail line on which the Winter Park Express operates is the first leg of the proposed mountain passenger rail that would run from Denver to Craig.

Winter Park Express expanded service will run every Thursday through Monday, January through March. The expanded service also includes a stop at the Fraser platform, five miles west of Winter Park. That means the Winter Park Express will more effectively serve non-ski passengers wanting to travel from Denver to the Fraser Valley, whether for business or recreation. Passengers can also load the train in Fraser for the return trip to Denver. The expanded service will also carry two additional passenger cars, raising the seats available from approximately 268 to 402 on each trip. 69 roundtrips will operate this season, 29 more than during the 2024 season.

“The Winter Park Express ski train has long been a beloved tradition for Colorado and our guests from around the globe. It has demonstrated the desire from both residents and visitors for transportation options other than passenger vehicles. The Winter Park Express gives people another way to get to the slopes that is more scenic, sustainable, and relaxing than getting in a car and driving.”

– Sky Foulkes, president of Winter Park Resort

You can bring your skis and snowboards as a carry-on for no additional charge. While onboard, you’ll enjoy a trip in Coach class, featuring wide, reclining seats with a big picture window, ample legroom, and no middle seat. The train also features a bi-level Sightseer Lounge—the social hub of the train—offering panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains from upstairs and café service with snacks and drinks for sale downstairs.

“At CDOT, we know that big ski days often mean tough drives in the mountains, and the Winter Park Express offers a great option to take a relaxing, affordable trip. We are excited to join in this innovative partnership to expand service and lower costs for an iconic Colorado travel experience.”

– CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew

Tickets between Denver Union Station (station code: DEN) to Winter Park Resort (station code: WPR) and Fraser (station code: WIP) can be purchased at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress and the Amtrak app. The train departs Denver at 7 a.m. and arrives at the resort at 9 a.m. The return trip departs Winter Park Resort at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 6:40 p.m. All times Mountain. Denver Union Station is served by the Regional Transportation District’s commuter trains from Denver International Airport and light rail, local or intercity buses, ride-sharing services, and taxis.

Customers in groups of up to eight can purchase Winter Park Express tickets at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress and the Amtrak app. Customers in groups of 9-14 can call 800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to make a reservation. Groups of 15 or more—including requests for exclusive railcar occupancy—should complete this form. For more information about group travel, call 800-USA-1GRP (1-800-872-1477) on weekdays, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. MT, or email [email protected].

Lift tickets and other passes can be purchased directly from the Winter Park Resort website. Winter Park Resort is an Alterra Mountain Company property, and its Ikon Pass welcomes skiers and riders to a community of inspiring mountain destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.