Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train is launching holiday runs starting Dec. 19, plus is expanding to four days a week beginning Jan. 8 to meet booming demand for travel through Colorado’s mountain corridor.

With 57 round-trips planned through late March, the rail line hopes to ease congestion on U.S. Highway 40 over Berthoud Pass while offering affordable access to Winter Park Resort and Fraser for skiers and sightseers.

The seasonal kickoff includes weekend specials: Dec. 19-21 and Dec. 26-28, 2025, plus Jan. 2-4, 2026. Regular operations start Jan. 8 running Thursdays through Sundays until March 29.

Trains depart Denver Union Station at 7 a.m., arriving at Winter Park Resort by 9:11 a.m. and Fraser at 9:41 a.m. Returns leave Fraser at 4:05 p.m. and Winter Park at 4:35 p.m., arriving at Denver’s Union Station by 7:05 p.m.

Tickets, starting at $9 for adults and $4.50 for kids, are on sale now at Amtrak’s website.

Riders can have their skis or snowboards as free carry-ons while lounging in coach seats with panoramic windows, ample legroom, and no middle seats.

The bi-level Sightseer Lounge serves as the onboard social spot, dishing snacks and drinks downstairs amid the Rocky Mountain vistas upstairs.

This season builds on last winter’s record-breaking season, where ridership surged over 150% from the previous year, thanks to a partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation that slashed fares and boosted trips.

“The Winter Park Express shows that when we offer passenger rail, Coloradans ride,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a release. “With cheaper fares, expanded service, and unparalleled mountain views, ridership has spiked. I look forward to riding the train this year and encourage all Coloradans to skip the bumper-to-bumper traffic and ride the Winter Park Express this season.”

Winter Park Resort hails the train as a tradition.

“The Winter Park Express ski train has long been a beloved tradition for Colorado and our guests from around the globe,” Sky Foulkes, president of the Winter Park Resort, said in a release. “The 2025-26 season marks the 50th birthday of Mary Jane, our more challenging, uninhibited second mountain. Mary Jane, like the Winter Park Express, is a ski country tradition, and we’re looking forward to celebrating both.”

Winter Park Resort, 70 miles from Denver, boasts 3,000+ acres of terrain, earning USA Today’s top North American ski spot recognition.