Alaska Railroad Corporation

"We booked the Aurora Winter Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks in January 2024. The trip lasted about 12 hours, and we were able to exit the train and stretch our legs for a few minutes at two stops (Talkeetna and Denali). During the winter it is Adventure Class only - no domed observation car - which makes sense given the extreme cold. The process of boarding was very organized. Cars and seats were assigned at check in. Staff was friendly and helpful. I appreciated the moose spotting and sightseeing tips along the way. We had beautiful, clear views of Denali, and the train even stopped for a few minutes at one spot to allow time for photos. I highly recommend getting the ride guide for more insight into what you are looking at as you travel through the landscape. We ate all three meals in the dining car. Meals were scheduled via reservation and called in by car. Staff in the dining car was super friendly as well. The food itself was similar to what I’ve had on Amtrak dining cars. Limited options and on the expensive side, but good. If you’ve never eaten in a train dining car, be prepared to be seated at a table with randos if you are a group of 1 or 2. It’s part of the experience. There is also a cafe car if you’d rather do that. Baggage claim at the end of the trip was just like baggage claim everywhere else - everyone stands around a big hole in the wall and waits for their bags to pop out. The only thing I would improve is the amenities of the seats. The cars are “historic,” which looks cool, but after 12 hours a tray table and a charging port would be appreciated."

"We took Aurora Winter Train from fairbanks to anchorage and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with the train, the condition, people and food. Before boarding the train, some people have us bad review and we were not sure but I am glad that I went ahead with it. Everything was perfection and I fully enjoyed my onboard experience"

"We had ride on the Alaskan Railroad on August 31st, I like the journey and the scenery but one minus is the onboard service. The staff were great and the chief were great as well and the food was good, but please update the management skills. The train ride was 4 hours long and we finally got a chance to place our orders when 2.30 hours past buy and got our food after 3.00 hours past buy leaving us little time to eat our food. Ps: we were at table 20 the last table of the car."