Winter Park (Colorado) Express is back

[Willbridge]

What was that UP car doing in the consist in the second photo, trailing the 5771?

You've got me on this (as I wasn't in Denver back then). There often have been Denver <> West Coast mail storage cars on the UP, so perhaps there was some sort of disruption on the Overland Route.

We mostly would get interline mail and express cars in Portland that came from the Pennsy.

 

[railiner]

You've got me on this (as I wasn't in Denver back then). There often have been Denver <> West Coast mail storage cars on the UP, so perhaps there was some sort of disruption on the Overland Route.

We mostly would get interline mail and express cars in Portland that came from the Pennsy.

Might have been something simpler, like a short term lease?

 

[River in Sight]

I read an update on service plans for this winter (press release):

• Service is now 5 days a week
• Tickets start at $19 (instead of $59)
• The train will stop at both Winter Park Resort, and Winter Park-Fraser
• Another article I saw said there will be two additional coaches in the consist, increasing capacity

I took this train last winter and enjoyed it, although for a family of three it was fairly expensive at $59 a head each way. This seems like a good group of improvements for this winter.

 

[Willbridge]

They've got the public information on the website already. With a calendar error:
https://www.amtrak.com/winterparkexpress

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/ne...s-sales-expanded-holiday-winter-season-trips/

https://gazette.com/life/skiing-sno...cle_fbda98f0-9fc8-5039-9248-ba684860d00a.html (bypass paywall).

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-rev...r-park-express-ski-train-expands-dates-route/

The local Fraser paper explains how the service is being expanded:
https://www.skyhinews.com/news/trai...cheaper-tickets-expanded-service-this-season/

Tourism wheels are turning. This is going to be a great experiment. The tourism people in Denver have gradually caught on that people fly into DEN, book hotel rooms "to adjust to the altitude" and take the train to ski. Now that's being promoted.
https://www.denver.org/articles/pos...25-winter-season-including-the-2024-december/

 

[Amtrak25]

I read an update on service plans for this winter (press release):

• Service is now 5 days a week
• Tickets start at $19 (instead of $59)
• The train will stop at both Winter Park Resort, and Winter Park-Fraser
• Another article I saw said there will be two additional coaches in the consist, increasing capacity

I took this train last winter and enjoyed it, although for a family of three it was fairly expensive at $59 a head each way. This seems like a good group of improvements for this winter.

Is this all a hidden indicator of where some of the 6 Capitol Ltd coaches will go ? They scraped up 4 cars last year, which they deadheaded from Oakland. Now there are 2 more. They could add a Denver cut coach to the Zephyr, which requires 3 cars, but that in Amtrak's mindset would be an off-the-wall concept even though they once did it. It would also facilitate swapping out Ski train coaches for maintenance.

 

[west point]

When I had younger children flew into Denver, rented car and drove to Winter Park. Really did not need car while staying there. Also never liked the drive over Berthoud pass. Promoting this service IMO would have been the ticket for our family. This is an example of expansion that could be served by the surge fleet all winter. Al very early airline arrival at Denver airport would allow late night departure from your home and connect directly to the ski train.

If this works another train that would go close to Aspen could also be instituted.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

When I had younger children flew into Denver, rented car and drove to Winter Park. Really did not need car while staying there. Also never liked the drive over Berthoud pass. Promoting this service IMO would have been the ticket for our family. This is an example of expansion that could be served by the surge fleet all winter. Al very early airline arrival at Denver airport would allow late night departure from your home and connect directly to the ski train.

If this works another train that would go close to Aspen could also be instituted.

We did that too, or if my mom came took the train and took the bus (did that to Steamboat too), or had my dad's buddy drive us up.

 

[railiner]

What would really be something, would be if Amtrak could start the Ski Train from the Denver airport using RTD’s line, then pick up at Union Station enroute to Winter Park, or vice versa.

I don’t know if the RTD line is capable of supporting a single Amtrak train. They might need to build an additional platform or some other facility at the airport.

If it is possible, think of the marketing opportunities it would open…

Carrier’s like United, could run code share with Amtrak, perhaps even offering seamless checked baggage service. Of course, that would require services at Winter Park…

 

[Willbridge]

When I had younger children flew into Denver, rented car and drove to Winter Park. Really did not need car while staying there. Also never liked the drive over Berthoud pass. Promoting this service IMO would have been the ticket for our family. This is an example of expansion that could be served by the surge fleet all winter. Al very early airline arrival at Denver airport would allow late night departure from your home and connect directly to the ski train.

If this works another train that would go close to Aspen could also be instituted.

The CZ stop at Glenwood Springs is the closest navigable point for Aspen. ColoRail has worked on the idea of a Colorado Zephyr, running year-round. However, the upscale people on the West Slope who favor rail service want a high-speed line.

The governor's interest in the Denver & Salt Lake line to Craig is because:

1. There already is a heavy-duty railway between Denver and Craig, signalized, though not with PTC.
2. As coal mines shut down, minds are finally focusing on what to do next. This economic shift likely will occur regardless of the White House.
3. The UP has publicly stated that they are looking for other traffic ideas.
4. Denver Union Station + DEN airport is ready to go.
5. Oh yeah, it's a beautiful ride unknown to many.

 

[Willbridge]

What would really be something, would be if Amtrak could start the Ski Train from the Denver airport using RTD’s line, then pick up at Union Station enroute to Winter Park, or vice versa.

I don’t know if the RTD line is capable of supporting a single Amtrak train. They might need to build an additional platform or some other facility at the airport.

If it is possible, think of the marketing opportunities it would open…

Carrier’s like United, could run code share with Amtrak, perhaps even offering seamless checked baggage service. Of course, that would require services at Winter Park…

The cost of the A-Line construction was reduced by single-tracking segments (I was involved in getting the double-track extended into the 40th Avenue station, which is a good turnback point for bus bridges. The contractor proposed a more severe deletion of the originally planned double-track segments.)

That means that the 15-minute headways are all that can be run. And MOW work requires bus bridges. So, with a third track added at DIA and some second main segments, it would be possible. To make it work, some deadhead trips for servicing might also be required.

Someday the Moffat Tunnel will be electrified and then the A-Line can run through to Fraser!

 

[daybeers]

I'd imagine the catenary is too low for Superliners.