THE ALASKA STORY
Sept. 20, 2026 – The summer crowds are heading home, but the Alaska Railroad is still taking passengers. The Aurora Winter Train began its weekend season Saturday, running between Anchorage and Fairbanks through May 9, 2027.
The schedule is northbound on Saturdays, southbound on Sundays. An Anchorage passenger can board at 8:30 am Saturday and reach Fairbanks at 8 pm; the return train leaves Fairbanks at 8:30 am Sunday. Along the way, the route serves Wasilla, Talkeetna, the Hurricane Gulch area, Denali, Healy and Nenana. The railroad has also scheduled additional midweek trips in February and March. Its published schedule has the full list of dates and stops.
For sightseers, the appeal is a long look at Alaska as the seasons change, from fall colors to snow along the Railbelt. For some Alaskans, the train does something more practical. North of Talkeetna, it provides flag-stop service through roadless country. Passengers can arrange to get on or off along the route, allowing residents to reach remote homes and cabins that have no road connection. Those stops also mean arrival times can vary. The railroad advises travelers to plan ahead for flag-stop trips. Its passenger guidance explains how the service works.
The Aurora name reaches back well beyond today’s winter timetable. According to the railroad’s history, the original Aurora, a blue-and-gold streamliner, made its inaugural run between Anchorage and Fairbanks in 1947. The line itself was completed in 1923, when President Warren G. Harding drove a ceremonial golden spike at Nenana. More than a century later, the same corridor remains a passenger route as well as a working railroad.
The winter train has a dining car. Checked baggage service is available at Anchorage and Fairbanks, while wheelchair access is listed at Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Travelers can check fares and book through the Alaska Railroad or by calling 800-544-0552.
The Aurora is only part of the railroad’s passenger calendar. Its special event trains include the longstanding Ski Train, an Easter ride for families, the Great Alaska Beer Train, Fairbanks’ HooDoo Choo Choo, a children’s Halloween train and the Holiday Train. The Fair Train also returned for the 2026 Alaska State Fair. Seats on event trains are limited, and the railroad offers an email list for ticket announcements.
Fairbanks residents will have another chance to see the railroad up close next Saturday, Sept. 26. The railroad says its Fairbanks Open House will run from 9 am to 1 pm at the Fairbanks Railroad Depot, with free train rides, equipment displays, and free prizes.
