Alaska Railroad

My journey on the Alaska Railroad Winter Aurora Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we boarded, the staff were warm, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. Their attentiveness throughout the journey made the experience feel both comfortable and special — nothing was ever too much trouble. The meals served onboard were fresh, flavorful, and thoroughly enjoyable. It was a real treat to sit back with a delicious meal while watching Alaska’s winter wilderness unfold outside the window. The scheduled stops along the way were perfectly timed, giving passengers the chance to step off briefly, breathe in the crisp air, and capture some beautiful photos of the surrounding landscape. The scenery itself was absolutely breathtaking — enchanting snow-covered forests, vast open expanses, and dramatic mountain views that felt almost surreal. Wildlife sightings made the journey even more memorable. We were lucky enough to see several moose, and another passenger even spotted a lynx, which added to the sense of adventure. The onboard facilities were immaculate. The bathrooms were consistently clean and fresh, and it was clear staff checked them frequently to maintain a high standard. The commentary throughout the trip was insightful, informative, and often entertaining, offering fascinating context about the landscapes and history we were passing through. It truly was an exceptional day from start to finish. The entire team should be incredibly proud of the outstanding service they provide — this journey is an unforgettable way to experience Alaska in winter.

Alaska Railroad Review – Gold Star Class Experience We had an absolutely amazing experience with the Alaska Railroad and their tour services. From the very beginning, the customer service stood out — we live in Florida and spent close to two hours on the phone customizing our trip. The staff was patient, knowledgeable, and eager to help us create the perfect itinerary. We chose to upgrade to Gold Star Class, and it was worth every penny. Meals on the train were included, along with unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic beverages per person for each leg of the journey. The food was surprisingly good, and every staff member we encountered was friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do. Our route took us from Anchorage to Seward and Talkeetna, with periodic returns to Anchorage. We spent two nights in Talkeetna and loved every moment. The excursions we booked through Alaska Railroad were fantastic and perfectly coordinated with our travel schedule. They truly excel at helping guests customize their adventures. We did encounter one small hiccup when weather prevented us from completing part of a glacier plane landing excursion. Initially, the refund didn’t appear on our credit card statement, but after one quick call to Alaska Railroad, they contacted the excursion provider and the refund was processed within four hours. That level of responsiveness really impressed us. Overall, this is truly an A+ operation. The scenery was breathtaking, the service outstanding, and the whole trip felt seamless. I would highly recommend Alaska Railroad to anyone looking to experience the magic of Alaska in comfort and style.

I gotta say this is probably the best train experience you will have in the US. Amazing views, practically an entire fully guided tour, and just really nice genuine employees. I loved the Gold Star car. With everyone getting two included drinks, people got very friendly! I’m knocking off one star for two reasons. 1) My foot rest would not move. I could not put any bag on the floor in front of me because of it. I kept smashing my shins into it as well. It was not comfortable at all for someone my height - 6’3. The only consolation I was offered was for them to store my backpack in the bar area. It was better than nothing. But I wish they had provided some amount of compensation for the discomfort. About 3/4 of the way through, the entire car started smelling very badly. Like a port-a-potty had overflowed or something. It was absolutely disgusting. Many people were complaining about it. Y’all might want to check out your sewage situation.

Book this!! This was my first train ride and I think I have ruined any other train ride. We took the trip to Seward during the summer and it was awesome. I think we did the perfect combo also so let me share. We booked the gold start on the way to Seward so we got the better view and breakfast with drinks in the morning. Then we booked the basic tickets on the way back. Because there were far less people on the way back we were able to walk around and even hand out in the back completely alone for a good about of time. Hopefully this works for other people. Regardless of how you do it I think it's a amazing trip.

Rode the Halloween train last year and plan on doing it this year. Everything appeared to be fine however the glass windows were slightly foggy, the non Halloween venders/performers were short with attitude along with slightly condescending demeanors when talking to customers. If you can get past that, it was a very fun trip with the kids.

Our first train experience was amazing. Can't go wrong with this one. Anchorage to Fairbanks going right past Denali/McKinley. Commentary on the train was steady, full of interesting history and fun local stories. Coffee stand and gift shop in Anchorage opened about an hour before departure. Bathrooms were clean, checking baggage was quick and easy.

What a great ride from Anchorage to Seward! The guides were great and very knowledgeable. Highlighted the great spots and even slowed down for picture taking. Not easily accessible for people with difficulty walking though.

Comfortable seating with plenty of leg room even in Adventure Class, can carry on a backpack or small suitcase. Can move about and between train cars and go to observation car. Stunning views and great live tour guides pointing out POIs.

Review #10 for 2026 We did this train ride from Anchorage to Seward while in Alaska to get to our cruise. This train ride was a fantastic scenic way to get from point A to point B. My baby boy loves trains and he had a great time on the train too. For this trip, we did splurge and did the GoldStar service. If you are doing it only once, I would say splurge on it!! However, I do not have any experience with the regular adventure class seating, but we felt it was totally worth it for us. It is DOUBLE the cost at $240 though, so keep that in mind as far as budgeting goes. I did just check the website and right now as of Jan 2026, the price increased to $277 for GoldStar seating and $133 for regular seating. Kids 2-11 cost significantly less. Under 2 is free if they sit on your lap. Everyone gets a special Goldstar pin! Our particular train was sold out as it was the first day and everyone was there trying to catch their cruise in Seward also, so to have the assigned seating and all was great for us. Checking in was quick. They are very efficient and fast!! When you bring your luggage, they will ask you if you want it to go to the cruise or train station. Those going to the cruise, tell you cruise!! You do not want to lug your luggage around town. Let them do the work for you!! So there is a weight limit for the suitcases. 2 can be checked in at 50lbs each. We spent ALL night moving stuff around and trying to make the weights work out and to get there and they just grabbed everything and asked you where you wanted it to go! It took like 10 seconds! They were not weighing any one suitcases or checking all that stuff... so I do not know if they actually check it or because our train was sold out they just wanted to load everyone on as fast as possible. Also, online it says you can only carry on a small backpack, but there were tons of people with large backpacks and even some with small suitcases. Like I said, I do not know how strict they are exactly or if because we were the first train of the season and sold out that they just wanted to get people on as fast as possible... With Goldstar, you get an open window train, meaning you can see 360 around you as opposed to regular seating where it is just a window, but the window is pretty big. I forgot to walk around the other trains just to see how different it was. With GoldStar you also get 2 free alcoholic drinks, there is no limit on non-alcoholic drinks and a full breakfast included. For breakfast you go downstairs and are in a seated table with table service. The breakfast was delicious! I got reindeer sausage with eggs and potatoes. You can also order multiple drinks. I got orange juice with coffee. Breakfast goes by pretty quick as they get people down in groups and send you back up so they can go on to the next group. If you have a sleeping toddler like we did, we were able to get his breakfast to-go and he had food when he woke up and he LOVED the breakfast as well. He devoured most of his meal! On the train, you were free to roam around. We went out back to the open air several times. It was a good way to get fresh air and stretch your legs. The air in Alaska is just so clean and fresh! The views were amazing from everywhere!! The Goldstar seats were comfy and big. Would I come back? YES!! I have been wanting to come back since we left Alaska! I want to do the aurora train during the winter that goes to Fairbanks. I heard its possible to see the northern lights. I want to experience the other train rides! Unfortunately, the only route that offers the Goldstar service is the Coastal Classic which goes from Anchorage to Seward and vice versa.

We booked the Denali Star to and from Denali, and it was an absolutely incredible experience! We had initially planned on driving up to Denali but pivoted last minute to the train - absolutely beautiful views and such a relaxing, peaceful experience. We booked adventure class, so we didn't have any included meals in our trip. But the dining car did have some prepackaged meals available as well as snacks and drinks. Not sure if it was because our trip was so close to the end of the season, but the options were a lot less than they showed on their website. The views from the dining car were beautiful! Windows were huge, and you could see the full scenery. A lot of the hotels offer shuttle service once you arrive in Denali, so our hotel had a courtesy van there, waiting to pick us up on arrival. Both the pick-up and drop-off at the train station in Denali were simple and smooth. The train ride is a bit long - I think it was 8 hours each way? - so if you have the extra time to spare, I'd highly recommend it. Wonderful experience.

We took the Alaska Winter train tour and it was absolutely amazing! Started in Anchorage then Talkeetna and Fairbanks. The tour was customized for us to do the activities we wanted (mushing, artic circle flight, northern lights tour) and included hotels. The train staff were marvelous, knowledgeable and really eager to share their knowledge and love for Alaska with all of us traveling. The Tran itself is very comfortable with amazing views and great food service.

The eight of us took the 4 hour Coastal Classic train from Seward to Anchorage. We splurged for GoldStar class since I had heard the views were like no other with the glass dome ceiling, making it one of the top train rides in the world. Included in the Goldstar ticket is dinner, unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic drinks. I had the chowder and cod, which I thought was quite tasty! My parents had the pot roast and did not care for it. The key lime pie was artificial tasting. But...IMO you don't take the railroad for the food anyway. The scenery is so breathtaking! A photo or video cannot do it justice, so after awhile, I didn't even try and sat back to soak it all in. Great hospitality from the staff. Loved the narration throughout the trip. One pro tip: there's an S curve about half an hour outside of Seward where you can see both the front and back of the train simultaneously. People rushed to the outdoor viewing area (left side). We didn't even bother at that point, it was so packed. Wish I knew this in advance so I would have staked out a spot! My mom said this was the highlight of our 14 day Alaska trip. The extra money for Goldstar was well worth it. Bucket list!

Our party of six took the Alaska Railroad Denali Star with Goldstar Service to Denali. The train ride to Denali was filled with extraordinary views of the landscape with narration from an Alaskan tour guide. The service and amenities including a private full service dining car was excellent. After spending two nights in Denali, we returned on the Denali Star standard class. The passenger cars were surprisingly roomy with lots of storage for bags. The open and airy dining car was also very nice. Overall, we were very happy with Alaska Railroad. Check out my YouTube video to see our trip. https://youtube.com/shorts/-A_lchhbP5w?si=VdwzVc01Lnwnkv-8

June 2024 Such a beautiful station and depot We had the gold star express experience Check in was a breeze and waiting for the train was the thrill for the kids We experienced the gold star express experience from Fairbanks to Denali and Denali to Anchorage No trip in Alaska is complete without a trip on the Alaska Rail

PreBoarding/Checkin Process: If I had one critique, it would be the lack of seats in the waiting area. Since they recommend showing up at least and hour prior to departure, but they don't board until 20 minutes to leave, there's lots of standing time. By my count, there were enough seats for about 20 people. The waiting area empties quickly and the boarding process happens fast. Slower if you want pictures alongside the train (Which are totally acceptable). On the Train: Start at your seats. Once the train gets moving, you can start wandering. Meals are a whole experience. Multiple seating and the process is pretty quick. Limited menu The pot roast at dinner is delicious. The green beans and mashed potatoes aren't anything special, but the pot roast is a good mixtures of soft and tasty with edges of slight crisp. The snack car has some cool seats and tables to play games. The upstairs area has great views and I felt was a cozy place to hang out. Fairbanks - - I wish I would have known that checked baggage takes FOREVER. The process is not efficient. And the train had spots to load your bags. Sort of like the spots for bags in the shuttle at the airport. 100% worth trying this out!

We took the round trip train from Anchorage to hurricane gulch. 12 hours. The good: amazing views from about 9:30 to 4 pm. It was warm and nice. The people were fantastic! One of the passengers brought cookies for everyone. A children's book author got on and signed her books We saw moose galore The bad: no food at all period. No WiFi Limited electric plugs Would I go again? In a heartbeat. It was spectacular. Denali was out in all it's' glory

Probably one of the top three things we did on our vacation in Alaska. We arrived in Anchorage and had to transfer to Seward. We took this train ride and upgraded to gold star seats. They served us breakfast, which was a treat and provided coffee and drinks and water. The cars had large windows that went all the way to the ceiling with outside viewing decks also. The seats in the train were very comfortable with plenty of legroom. The landscape we traveled through was absolutely stunning! Bald eagle alley really amazing. We would've been able to see a little bit better had it not been raining but it was still phenomenal. I would 110% recommend this Adventure!

We rode the Aurora Winter Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, a 12-hour journey. We wondered what we would do for 12 hours, but we shouldn't have worried. We caught a ride share from the airport to the train depot. We arrived at the depot the suggested one hour prior to departure, and were glad that we did; we avoided the rush of people who arrived later. The employees at the depot were very friendly, informative and organized. There were free train posters on a table. Boarding was painless and we soon departed. Announcements were made at intervals about various sites. A guide book is sold on board for $5.00. It provided good information about the sites we rode through. The views from the big windows were beautiful. We did not spot wildlife. Dining was very organized. A worker walked through the cars, taking reservations. We were told when to go to the dining car, so it was never overcrowded. We found tables in the cafe car, where we sat and did crafts. I purchased a train Lego-like set at the depot gift shop to do on the train. The temperature in the train cars was comfortable, in the 60s. It got colder as we approached Fairbanks. Unfortunately, there was a YouTube content creator, who had the temerity to lean across tables to get the perfect shot. Time passed quickly (almost too quickly), and we were in Fairbanks too soon. We had such a good experience that we are now considering taking other train rides. Thank you to all the wonderful employees for giving us such a memorable experience.

The Coastal Classic Train proved a most enjoyable way to get to Seward for a boat tour. There were two narrative guides; one was good, the other just annoying. Breakfast featured okay scrambled eggs and really good reindeer sausage. On the way back, I had a very decent-tasting and good-sized hamburger. This train had older equipment, but it was still in decent shape. The windows were somewhat dirty, which was unfortunate because there were fantastic views of bays, lakes, rivers, and glaciers, plus moose, black bear, and Dall sheep. There was a crying baby nearby; I have kids and know two things: (1) a baby's going to cry sometimes, and nothing can stop it, but (2) it is usually possible to move to a location more considerate to others. I'm including a picture of a banner that I found most disturbing - not least because a railroad actually wanted it for their centennial logo. To me that stiesel engine looks like something Stephen King would dream up!

We took the train from Denali National Park to Anchorage at the end of our trip and I must say, this train ride was probably the best thing we did on our journey! I loved everything we did on our trip (rafting/hiking/tours/etc), but this ride was so fun/relaxing. I have taken trains on other vacations and they are usually in a small seat with one small, round window (if you're lucky). On the Alaska Railroad, in the "Gold Star" service level, we had large picture windows all around, were allowed to move about freely from the snack car/dining car/our seats/and to the observation deck. From the observation deck you could see over the trees to the mountains/lakes/rivers/etc! Seriously, this train ride was the highlight of our Alaska trip (and we were in the cheapest Gold Star seats available!) The best part - this was one of the few times we got to see Denali (Mt. McKinley) clearly, was on this train ride :-) The conductor/stewardesses even pointed out wildlife/major sights to see when we passed them! I highly reccomend this train journey if you are anywhere in this area of Alaska.

After a hectic but not terribly long, check in process at the train station, we were directed to Car A for our journey. We hadn't realized that there isn't space in Gold Star class for any luggage that doesn't fit under the small space under the seats. That's because the "walls" and ceiling are all windows for an amazing view. So we had to check our carry-on luggage but it arrived at our hotel in Seward before we did. To get to our seats, we had to climb very steep, small steps up. It was a challenge to go up and down while the train was moving, but we had to do that to go down to the dining car and restrooms. There was a bar at the back of our car - no stairs required and our tickets included our meal and 2 drinks. I, of course, had the delicious Gold Spike Old Fashioneds. They have a full bar with beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks. The 4 hour ride from Anchorage to Seward had breathtaking scenery. We saw Stephen's Glacier, Kenai Lake, and so much more. There was a tour guide on the loudspeaker pointing out sites and giving history. Our breakfast in the dining car was nice. They had 4 choices for entrées and coffee, tea, and juices. They do lunch and dinner also - depending on the time of the trip. I did go out on the viewing platform at the back of our car, and it was a fun experience. About midway through the trip the conductor came to our car and we chatted and asked questions for awhile. Once we got to the station in Seward there were lots of shuttles lined up to take people to their hotels or tours or downtown. Everything was very convenient and the people were all very friendly. I think the Coastal Classic train is a must for anyone traveling between Anchorage and Seward.

Check in is a total clown show with disgruntled employees that hate having to point you in the right direction. "Did you see the sign?" No, you haven't put any signs out. "Oh, well it's still pretty obvious" WTF are you talking about? I don't live here. I don't work here. I didn't put on my Alaskan Railroad uniform this morning, drag my hungover ass to the station, and stand here in my customer service job all day. But you did! You get to be the clown today! You did this to yourself! Honk honk!

This was a highly anticipated ride from Anchorage to Talkeetna. Well, it was somewhat disappointing. For one, although we enjoyed the wide windows, the views to Talkeetna didn't quite live up to our expectations. I will say that the views from Denali back to Anchorage was beyond amazing (more on that later in another review). Also, the plane was strangely managed. To eat, we had to go downstairs (and miss the open views?). We decided to pass on eating. It was a very relaxing ride with great A/C...but sadly, disappointing.

Took the train from Talkeetna to Anchorage last week with my nephew and we had a great time. Lindsay the bartender was great with the kid, refilling his sparkly water and adding slices of lemon (to be fancy) the whole time. Daniel was quick to respond when he flipped his plate of reindeer bolognese onto his lap. Reece, Alex, and Jack killed it on the commentary and even Conductor Kevin chatted with the kid and made him feel super special. Overall, we had a great time! Thank you, Alaska Railroad. :-)

We used the Alaska Railroad to travel from Anchorage to Seward, Alaska to get to the Seward Cruise Port for our Royal Caribbean Alaskan cruise. First is it the cheapest way of travel? For 4 adults it was around $400.00 and the trip was a little over 4 hours. Yes if transportation and cost is the only criteria a taxi is around $350 for four adults with a travel time of 2 hours. For is the experience of the train and the scenic ride was worth it. When you travel on the train a person comes on over the intercom and points out the scenic sights and any wild animals nearby. Again for a great travel experience the Alaska Rail is great.

We had a great family trip on the winter train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Our conductor F Long and assistants Daniel and Dustin were awesome. They were available for questions and took the time to answer them. Our 12 hour journey didn't seem that long. We were able to play games provided on the train a long as we left tables available for others. We were able to walk through the different cars as we needed to. To make breakfast, lunch or dinner reservations, the host would go through each car. We chose lunch as we liked the options better and had to sit across from people we didn't know. This was in order to make room for those who wanted to eat, I get it but was a little uncomfortable for those who do not wish to engage. We were told when wildlife was spotted and the train slowed down so everyone could see which was much appreciated. Scenic sites were also pointed out along the way. There is a bar and snack bar if you would like a drink or small lunch or dinner. We brought snacks and food and drinks on the train, bags are not checked for these items so I'm guessing they are allowed . Check in process was great, staff were very helpful and informative. Looking forward to another trip on a different route!

Dome Car - Gold Star Service - First Class Just do it and splurge! This has been on my mom's "bucket list" for years, and this year we made it happen. So glad we did. It was an awesome trip. Of course, we got super lucky and had amazing weather. Partly sunny / cloudy and no rain. The segment from Anchorage to Seward is claimed as The Most Beautiful Train Trip. Now, I don't do much "train-ing" (hahahahaha!), so I have no frame of reference, but it truly is Spectacular with a capital S! Who knew there were so many waterfalls in Alaska?! Everything is so green and lush! The glaciers glistened. We also saw lots of Bald Eagles and a few Dall Sheep. The train even slowed down to a crawl so we all got a good look at the sheep. The day started WAY to F*ing early for me. ha! But it was totally worth it. We had to be at the train station (Anchorage) by 5:45am, and when we got there it was organized chaos. People everywhere. Thankfully the folks working know what they are doing. We checked our luggage all the way to our hotel in Seward. (Meaning we never touched our luggage again until it was delivered to our room at our hotel in Seward. That's Service! Dang! I was impressed and uber thankful since we had a full day in Seward.) Then we had to go inside the small building to check-in and get our train tickets. Then we had to wait for them to allow us outside onto the train platform / loading area. Once they allowed us to go to the trains, it was another bit of organized chaos. Each train car had a letter so hopefully you know your letters by now and can find your car that you are assigned to. If not, there was staff to help. We boarded the A car and got settled into our assigned seat. Upon boarding, they had HOT coffee waiting. Of course, I was a little late to the party on that so I waited for a fresh batch to be made. No biggee... just took a few minutes to get my fix of caffeinated bliss. Breakfast was included in our fare which was served below us in the Dining area of A car. Since it is pretty small, they split you into 2 seatings. Their breakfast menu is pretty limited, but solid. Mom got the eggs and reindeer sausage and I got the Oatmeal, and we shared. OH! And with the First Class ticket, you get 2 adult beverages per adult of legal drinking age (21+)! So, we kicked off the morning with a Mimosa for Mom and a Bloody Mary for me. Cheers! Breakfast was organized, and it didn't feel weird while moving. After breakfast we went back up to our seats and enjoyed the rest of the trip either in our seats or on the back outside covered patio. Outdoor Viewing Deck, I think it was called. We even had our own bartender in the Dome Car. She was stationed in between the seating area and the Outdoor Deck. Such a relaxing and civilized way to travel. PS... The stairs in the dome car are a steep, narrow spiral. So, keep that in mind if you have a hard time with stairs. Oh... and the bathrooms were nice and clean too. Sort of like airplane bathrooms but bigger and nicer. Oh.. and there isn't a lot of room for extra 'stuff'. Thankfully our backpacks that we had with us fit under the seat in front of us. Don't bring a bunch of unncessary stuff with you.

This is the main reason that Gayle and I came to the 49th State, to land cruise on the Alaska Railroad. It also marked my achievement of visiting all 50 states. Onward to my last Canadian Province.....Newfoundland. Gayle and I splurged on the Gold Star service, which meant assigned seats in a wonderful observation car, full luggage service, drinks at our seat, meal service downstairs, and really great Alaska Railroad employees. We took the Coastal Classic to from Anchorage to Seward and back, and then the Denali Star to Denali and then Fairbanks. It was a magical scenic experience throughout.

One of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had. After paying far too much for these tickets, the conductor had the nerve to wake us up on our way back and accused us of lying about our tickets and stealing from the train. When I proved her wrong, she proceeded to blame the confusion on me, insult my partner and refuse to apologize. I have been on trains all over the world. Nobody does it worse than these idiots. Rent a car.

I cannot say enough good things about the staff. They are amazing. I brought my grandson to the depot to watch the trains, they saw how excited he was and they invited him onto the train to meet the conductor and walk around a little bit. They even made him a special little drink. Best day ever for him!!

GOLDSTAR service Cost: $585 Date: 09/19/2023 Sad to give this experience 1 star, because I live here and want to be proud. I started getting asked by the 2024 visitors on whether or not this trip is a good idea, and that reminded me to post this review of the 2023 trip. Trip from Anchorage to Girdwood takes 75 minutes. The railroad does not shift the train schedule to adjust for when Alaska starts rapidly losing the daylight towards the end of the summer, so out of the 75 minutes, the first 45 were in complete darkness. As soon as we boarded, we were asked if we were only travelling to Girdwood and assured we would be the first to be seated at the restaurant and first to be served breakfast, so that we would have enough time to eat. Unfortunately, we were seated the absolute last and if the food was brought to the table just 5 minutes later than it had been, we wouldn't have even had the time to taste the food. Entertainment-wise at the restaurant, while waiting, we watched the server pour a glass of water right from the facet with a sign "Not for drinking" and bring it to someone's table. By that time it got light outside, so my dad stepped on the open deck to take a photo. That's when the person in charge came running and yelling "Quick! Quick! Those getting off at Girdwood, get ready! Quick!" What an atmosphere of nervousness and rush. I'm not particularly sensitive, yet this experience felt like getting quickly kicked off before the train took off immediately. I'm mostly disappointed for my visitors who were left with this bad taste in the mouth. In 15 years of living here, probably the most disappointing "touristy" experience of all. Unfortunately. I think Alaska can do better.

We had a phenomenal time on our trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks in early December. We lucked out and had clear skies, a beautiful view of Denali, and even a few moose sightings. We took advantage of the dining car for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the food was fabulous. The trip was about 12 hours, and there was someone alerting you to sights out the window, local history, and relevant train knowledge pretty much the whole way. We had a local celebrity author board at one point and do a book signing, which was unique. The mood on the train was so friendly- everyone is stuck there for so long, it kind of encourages you to open up and make new friends. I wish I would have dressed warmer- I had sweated my way through the airport wearing heavy base layers, so I wore lighter ones on the train and was pretty chilly the whole time. Also, I didn't think to bring snacks, but if you're not looking to spend money on the train food, I would recommend packing some. All in all, it was a beautiful way to see some of Alaska. I highly recommend!

We rode the Wilderness Express from Anchorage to Denali. It was amazing. The views are gorgeous, if you have a clear day. There is in seat service for drinks and a dining car. The staff was really really nice. The food was even reasonable. They come by and ask if you would like to eat lunch in the dining car; we did. Then they take people down in batches. We had the French Dip and a Turkey Melt. Both were good. 2 sandwiches, 2 sodas, and 1 slice of pie for dessert = $58. So not cheap. But the view was amazing and the service was good.

*This review is for the Aurora winter train in January from Anchorage to Fairbanks.* Boarding experience - 5 stars Service of train staff - 5 stars Train amenities - 4 stars Scenery - 5 stars The train stopping in Talkeetna (less than halfway to Fairbanks) because an ARR freight train was broken down ahead - 3 stars Having to board buses to drive the rest of the way to Fairbanks since they could not move the train- 2 stars Not being able to get a any amount of refund because apparently its part of their Terms of Service includes a provision that allows them to provide alternate transportation in the event of unforseen circumstances - 0 stars I feel like if they encounter this situation often enough that they added a clause to exempt them from providing customers refunds when issues come up, are they really unforseen? I would like to see some numbers on how often they have to do this. From the demeanor of the train staff this seemed to be a routine occurrence. No one seemed the least bit surprised and one of them even shrugged and said, "well we tried" as we boarded the buses. Although the overall experience of the train (including the buses) was not so bad, just the fact that ARR has the audacity to treat customers this way really invalidated any positive aspect of the actual experience. Many customers plan for a long time and save their hard earned money for this experience, its not a cheap ticket. And the fact that ARR has the audacity to pull a bait and switch in the ToS is really quite insulting.

We throughly enjoyed the Wilderness Express train from Anchorage to Talkeetna on a Celebrity land tour. Other individuals were also traveling. We opted for breakfast. We took seats upstairs where we were told a short history of the railroad, safety and the train's services. Then we were called down for breakfast. There was an elevator used by a few disabled people. The menu included omelets, pancakes, barley meal, yogurt, and side meats and breads. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. Hubby got the scrambled eggs with bacon and reindeer sausage. I ordered the barley meal with brown sugar, blue berries, sliced almonds and organic maple syrup. It was way better than oatmeal. While traveling we looked for wildlife. Totally recommend taking the Wilderness Express train in Alaska.

Having been trying since July 2024 to book the package deal North to Denali and was continually told they were waiting for the final costs to firm up our package costs. Today I was told they are unable to book us lodging in Talkeetna, unable to provide the Denali Park tour, and unable to keep us in the Gold coach for the return train to Anchorage. All of this was supposed to be part of the package. I am beyond frustrated and disappointed.

We took this from Fairbanks to Denali and then from Denali to Anchorage. If your into train rides through wilderness country seeing mountains, moose, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, Eagles, gorgeous scenery constantly while sipping on adult beverages and eating wonderfully prepared food server be friendly fast servers then this is your next trip. Seriously, it was the best part of our Alaska 2 week trip. Wonderful, just wonderful.

Sadly we didn't get to ride to our Seward excursion as booked because of chance of avalanche however the would not offer a partial refund because they said they were giving us transportation which was a bus. If you book bus to begin it's $75 We paid $147 for railroad and were disappointed not to be offered a partial refund Bus driver was friendly and informative along the ride I'm giving 2 stars just for customer service I'm not rating the railroad which my husband says is amazing because I didn't get to ride

There is something magical about exploring America's Last Frontier via the good old American train. Peacefully cruising through the beautiful landscape that is Alaska, the Alaska Railroad is an adventure fit for everyone. Words don't do justice for how wonderful this trip truly was. It was worth every penny for round trip Gold Star Service. My entire family was in awe on both legs of the journey. We took the train from Anchorage to Seward roundtrip in June, which meant plenty of daylight in the land of the Midnight Sun. We saw bears, bald eagles, moose, glaciers, tunnels, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, and lakes. We had a boat tour for the Kenai Fjords in Seward, and everything was timed perfectly with the train. On our return to Anchorage, we witnessed the Alaskan sunset over the Turnagain Arm. This was a majestic ride. It brought all my social studies learnings on American history from grade school to life. When I was in the 3rd grade, I found the lyrics to America the Beautiful at the front of my social studies book, and the lyrics were so beautiful to me that I scribbled it into my notebook. The Alaska Railroad takes you through American landscape that truly brings that song to life. The company itself is grand. The conductor was so friendly. He came out multiple times to check on riders, and he even took a picture with us and gave us little souvenir bands that said "I rode the Alaska Railroad." Seats were very comfortable. Food was great for train food. For breakfast, they even served reindeer sausage, which was surprisingly delicious. I had the cream of barley cereal, which was healthy, warm, and hearty, served with brown sugar and milk. For dinner, we had the slow braised pot roast and Gold Rush gumbo (a cauliflower riced dish with vegetables). We were pleasantly surprised to get a chocolate mousse cheesecake after dinner. Drinks are unlimited, with alcoholic beverages limited to 2 per person (although they really didn't keep count, much to my dad's joy). Bathrooms were surprisingly kept pretty clean. The staff were all very friendly, and they clearly loved their jobs. I am so happy we got to experience the Alaska Railroad Gold Star Experience. This started off as something on the itinerary to make my husband happy since he's always wanted to ride a train since he was a little boy, but it turned into a magical ride for everyone involved. I am excited to ride more trains in the future.

The trip was going well at the start of it until dinner time and baggage claim time. First came dinner, it started late, but things do happen in every kitchen and I'm not the kind of person expecting perfection ever. They call the first group of the B car of the 'GoldStar Service' (meal is included with this type of ticket. This is the best ticket anyone could buy for the trip) - [seat 18C and 18D of the 5-17-24 afternoon trip]. I noticed right away such first group was taking a very long time (my party of 5 were on the second group) and I immediately thought it was the passengers' fault, however, shortly after we found out it was actually the kitchen's fault. By the time the second group was called (our group) we were almost at the end of the trip and everyone was rushing. When I tried to order, the waiter expressed they could only served either a soup and salad or a dish. I was truly shocked since I never understood a soup and a salad was a 'meal'. So, then we were told shortly after we couldn't order soup either I was shocked. My guess is the kitchen person coordinating everything has no idea of what he/she is going, or the food was purposely brought short on board. I ended up ordering a Pot Roast and then the waiter said they had no gravy for the mashed potatoes. I just couldn't believe it, and already upset I just asked her to bring it anyway since the rest of the menu was subpar anyway (only God knows what happened to people that ordered other items, but judging by the faces and conversations around the car people were not happy at all). Several of us in the car called for a manager, and a young kid that came by tried to apologize sincerely, but there was nothing he could do anyway. We specifically told him to make sure he communicated with his superiors that we wanted a refund for the dinner part of the trip and that we were extremely disappointed. He took our information down. When the food finally arrived I was just beside myself, ..... that looked like anything but 'Pot Roast'. Took 2 bites and had to leave and return to my seat to make sure I didn't lose my temper. Of course, I didn't bother trying my desert. When we finally arrived, then came the circus of claiming our baggage. They had loaded an actual 'box truck' with all the luggage at the terminal in Seward, which I thought the intention was to make sure everybody's luggage was delivered ahead of time and placed in the destination terminal so people could take their bags faster. Boy was I surprised! When we arrived, we found out the truck, even though it was there for God knows how long, they had not even brought the luggage down. I have videos of the whole show. So three or four passengers had to help the driver and I guess his assistant bringing the luggage down from the truck and the passengers themselves had to kind of help each other to make sure everybody got their bags. A total circus. I just couldn't believe it. Bottom line, if anyone ever wants to take this trip, they need to know that yes, they will enjoy beautiful views. However, professionalism should not be expected, and quality should not be part of any type of food or other service offered, including wine. Also, if it's possible, you may want to bring your luggage with you on the train, but if you have no choice, make sure you know the expectations and also tag those luggage pieces really well, so they don't get confused at the end of the destination.

It is very much worth the extra bucks to ride with Gold Star Service (first class). The views on the glass dome deck are simply breathtaking and feels like you're at the edge of the world - kinda reminded me of the train scenes from the movie Spirited Away. We rode the Coastal Classic line just from Anchorage to Girdwood. We were so awestruck by the scenery, too busy taking photos/videos that we missed our opportunity to get our complimentary meal during our ride. But we were able to get our free drinks, at least. That said, make sure you take the time to make your way downstairs if you're going to be hungry later, as the trip from town to town will go by fast especially when you're having as much fun as we were. The perk of riding first class, too, is that you're able to step outside in one of their carts for some fresh Alaskan air and more cool photo-ops. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking to get some sightseeing done while you travel, or just a fan of nature. There's a decent gift shop at the Anchorage station, where most people will begin or end their rides. I'd be delighted to see what the rest of the routes look like if I ever return again to visit.

I would much rather travel from the port of Seward to Anchorage by train than by bus. A much more scenic trip. Saw my first moose this time! And a beluga whale

Must must must do this train. Gold Star is the best !!!! Staff amazing friendly welcoming helpful and very knowledgeable if there's anyway possible do the Goldstar ride

The Denali Star went through some beautiful landscapes. However, this is not an eight hour train. It was closer to 10-11 hours. We paid for adventure class so we couldn't use the dining room for breakfast or lunch. Ten to twelve hours is a long time to go without a real meal. Also, most of the seats don't have charging ports. I was expecting uncomfortable seats and no wifi, but lack of charging ports and real food was a major bummer. If I was doing this trip again, I'd rent a car versus the train and maybe do a shorter train ride from anchorage.

We rode the McKinley Explorer in early September from Anchorage to the McKinley Chalet in Denali National Park. Keera is our guide. The train is great. 2 level cars 180 degree views from every seat, dining area below. The views are fabulously astounding. We have been to a few places and the trip to and into Denali is incomparable. Our guide was great pointing out so many things on the roughly 7 hour journey. We saw Mt. McKinley, n/k/a, Denali, from many angles and from many spots on the ride. Guide said we were so lucky 85% of the time the peaks are shrouded in clouds or just not viewable. Meals are provided, breakfast and lunch and small plates are available throughout. Cocktails are also available as each car has a bar with bartender. Flora and fauna are seen regularly from the train one of our favorite spots was an outside viewing platform at the front of our car. Great views. We came in early September and the trees were in full color amazing golds & reds. Temperature was ideal 60 degrees and bright sun for the whole ride. We highly recommend this along with a park visit. Mark & Nancy.

It was very difficult to get the advertised 1/2 price "off season" fare for those on Medicare, but I was finally able to reach a supervisor who helped me.

Great adventure with lots of information throughout our ride. First time on the railroad and we loved it

I had a great ride from Anchorage to Seward for the day. Many thanks to all employees from Alana, the passenger services supervisor, Daniel the Onboard supervisor, Lee and his dining crew, CJ the Tourguide, Wanda the conductor and to all the staff at the depots in Anchorage and Seward - thank you as always for making the trip an extremely wonderful experience.

We took the Coastal Classic to Seward. The ride took about 4 hours. We had access to the dome sitting area which gave open windows views all the way around. The views were absolutely gorgeous and unforgettable. The train was well kept and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the scenery. The train ride is a must do!

Horrible customer service from reservations! Waited on hold for 40+ minutes to redeem a tour saver coupon and got either no answer, or the phone was answered and immediately disconnected. Tried to book at the ticket counter and was told I had to contact the number. When it was explained that I had tried calling the number, was basically told too bad, not my problem. Pay full price. Did get good service from staff on board and conductor. Views were not that amazing as we had done the drive. Definitely not worth the money.

This is a Must DO when visiting Anchorage. We took the train to Whittier and were able to see amazing sights. In Whittier, we caught the 26 Glacier tour boat for a stunning adventure, returning in time to take the train back. Tip: Get an assigned table upstairs to see everything. Magical‼

The views are stunning, and the staff is nice and attentive. However, the gold star food service was disorganized. They do two separate seatings for meals. If you're in the second seating, you might as well grab a meal elsewhere. We waited over 90 minutes to get to our seating, which lasted less than a half an hour. They need to come up with a better process as the first and second wave seatings pay the same price.

We booked this not knowing what to expect but knew we wanted to see Alaska in a different way. This was so worth it. Sit back, relax in really comfy seats, grab your coffee, and just watch the beauty roll by. The train is not so fast that you cannot get pictures, and it stops along the way. There is plenty of time to get out, stretch your legs, take a hike, and make it back to the train.

We rode the winter train last week from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Beautiful winter snowy scenery out the train window was perfect! Unfortunately the train seating and interiors were uncomfortable and outdated looking. The four of us at table seating facing one another was nice, but the table leg came out of the window wall at an angle underneath the table made it cramped in for our legs! Plus we at the end of train car by door opening for passengers. Every few seconds the door between train cars opening & closing with passengers. It was making a horrible loud banging noise was overwhelming exhausting and nerve racking. The snack car was fun with small seating upstairs looking out. The dining car was outdated. Food and drinks were OK, adequate nothing special.

Alaska is huge, the size of the west coast, twice as big as Texas. You get the picture. In order to see this great state you better have a car, but if your like me you end up driving the whole time and don't get to experience the travel un-encumbered. This is where the tours come into play. Not only can you coordinate the train ride to a glacier tour in Whittier, but coming back as well. The train ride is guided as well, which is a plus. The daily parking at the lot across the street is $20, but the Hilton across the street can also be used if you got game. The park that's between them is pretty cool. The locomotive across the street is cool, but the train building itself looks like a school. Inside looks like an old school, woodsy train station. Coffee cart, bathrooms, gift shop. You load up out back where they designate your cart and level, and your seating is a little up to you, but you may end up sharing a table with others. Bathrooms on board are much like any train/airplane bathroom, but what I like most is the concessions cart. Finally I get to let loose and not have to stay sober to drive, not that anyone else in my family couldn't otherwise, but I have the most experience and best sense of travel. I start knocking back boilermakers and bloody mary's, extra mary (no salmon vodka). Half the trip has waterfront views even better than the road, the other half was green hills/mountains, snowcaps, lakes, streams. The usual gorgeous scenery. You won't always catch a ton of wildlife, like we didn't see any bears (though they are more common on the Denali ride apparently), or moose, but pretty much everything else. Service is good, friendly, facilities are clean and modern, but they don't lose their sense of old school history. The price is something to be planned for as it's not simply a train ride, it's a tour and thus is priced accordingly. Protip: I recommend spending some time at the car joints and getting some fresh air in your face. I had a great time waving at people/cars as they/we passed and I found people up here to be very friendly. I got over 100 people to wave in a matter of 30 minutes or so. Since I went in the summer I'm not sure how this runs during the winter, but it's a great way to get around if you don't have a car or don't' feel like drifting around with studded tires in the winter.

Exceeded my expectations! The train ride from Anchorage to Seward offered breathtaking views and beautiful scenery. We were fortunate the weather was beautiful and it was a calm sunny day! Conductor Warren was fabulous as he was helpful and cordial. He even took the time to stop and answer our questions! I would highly recommend this trip.

Took the McKinley Explorer train from Denali to Anchorage. I took the dome car from Denali and had drinks, and lunch and snacks. The dome car was amazing, a 360 degree view of everything we passed. The reason for the lack of stars is because of all of the delays with stopping and sitting and waiting for other trains to pass. The train ride was scheduled for leaving at 8:30 am and arriving at 5:30 pm. Didn't understand why it should take so long since the train should have gone faster than the bus ride for practically the same route. I did love the views and the food in the dining car below the top level of the dome car. Having a bartender and a commentator made the trip that much better, but it took an eternity to get to Talkeetna and then we still had 3 hours to get to Anchorage. The train finally started moving once we got past Talkeetna, but until then it was so slow and actually stopped for way too long. I do feel the trip and views were amazing and what we saw and the food was outstanding for a train and everyone worked hard to make this trip special. But you've got to work on the delays. I still don't understand why there was only one rail track. Why wouldn't there be a second track!