Alaska offers some of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys. Two railroads operate in the state, the Alaska Railroad and the White Pass & Yukon Route. The Alaska Railroad is a modern railroad with track stretching from Seward to Fairbanks with stops in Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park and Preserve. The Alaska Railroad is famed for its glass-domed rail cars and excellent service. The White Pass & Yukon Route travels from Skagway to Fraser, B.C. Established more than 100 years ago during the Klondike Gold Rush, it’s now a scenic rail line that takes visitors through rugged terrain and impressive scenery. Alaska is not accessible from the contiguous U.S. by rail.
Alaska train travel offers an exciting way to see the state. Both the White Pass & Yukon Route and the Alaska Railroad go places inaccessible by road. Both trains still offer “whistle stop” service for passengers to disembark along the way for a quiet day of picnicking, fishing, or hiking.
The two-hour White Pass Railroad train tour is a popular excursion for cruise ship passengers at port in Skagway. Cruise ship passengers disembarking in Seward, Whittier, and Anchorage can hop on the Alaska Railroad for a convenient post-cruise multi-day land tour, with convenient access to Denali National Park and Fairbanks.
On the Alaska Railroad, two classes of passenger service are available, including GoldStar Service featuring glass-domed ceilings and outside viewing platforms. Locally-sourced food and beverages are offered in dining cars so you can enjoy hearty and delicious meals on your journey. Local tour guides provide narration and point out the bears, moose, bald eagles, and other wildlife that can be seen along the way. Train tours on the Alaska Railroad are a convenient and fun option for those interested in seeing Southcentral and Interior Alaska but don't want to drive themselves. Multi-day packages are available that include overnight stays at hotels and lodges along the way and activities such as rafting, wildlife viewing, hiking, ziplining, and more. A major rail station in Denali National Park provides one of the most favored methods of reaching this iconic national park.