Expanded Schedule, Lower Fares Send Ski Train Ridership Sky High

Denver — The final numbers are in, and the data shows that the first season of expanded Winter Park Express service has been a roaring success.

The train, operated through a partnership between Winter Park Resorts and Amtrak, runs from Denver to the Winter Park Resort and the Winter Park-Fraser station during the ski season. Final data shows that ridership in 2025 increased by 153% to a total of 43,919 riders over the same period last winter.

Trains averaged 89% full and most weekends were regularly running at 95% or more capacity.

"Historic ridership increases on the Winter Park Express prove that when Coloradans are provided an affordable, reliable and safe transportation option to get to the mountains, we flock to it,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “Thanks to this year’s state investment, more Coloradans than ever skipped the I-70 traffic and took the train to the mountains. Expanding this service and delivering Mountain Rail in this corridor will continue this historic growth, reducing traffic and pollution and saving people time and money."

Service for the Winter Park Express, known colloquially as the "ski train," expanded in January from three days a week to five days a week. Meanwhile, fares were cut by more than 40%.

Where passengers previously had only been able to take the train on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they could now take it on Thursday and Monday as well. The ski train operates from mid-December through the end of March for the winter season.

"We believe that increased ridership at this level is helping to take cars off congested roadways and make everyone safer," said CDOT Acting Director Sally Chafee. "It also means much lower emissions per passenger mile, so there’s a huge environmental benefit here."

Amtrak officials were similarly satisfied with the first season's results.

“Our train crews and our team of volunteers rose to the challenge of unprecedented ridership for the Winter Park Express, delivering the service safely and successfully,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Amtrak executive vice president, strategy and planning. “Thanks to Gov. Polis and Colorado DOT for their support and to our operating partners at Union Pacific, BNSF Railway and Denver RTD for a sensational season.”

The increased schedule and the decreased fares were made possible by revenue from the first year of the state’s new Congestion Impact Fee on rental cars, administered by the Colorado Transportation Investment Office. In addition to overseeing the state’s Express Lanes, CTIO is funding surface transportation projects that include rail.

“CTIO couldn’t be happier with the results of the first season of expanded service for the ski train,” said CTIO Director Piper Darlington. “We believe ridership will continue to grow as more people learn about the additional days and lower fares.”

With the fare reductions, one-way tickets for the Winter Park Express start at $19 or $9.50 for kids.

In addition to being able to purchase food and beverages aboard the Winter Park Express, passengers can enjoy panoramic views of the Rockies from the Sightseer Lounge car.

“The Winter Park Express has been a popular way for decades for skiers and snowboarders to easily get to the slopes. As there continues to be more and more pressure on our local roads and highways, the train provides a great alternative for people to get to Winter Park. We’re grateful to CDOT and Amtrak for their continued partnership, helping to make the train more affordable and accessible for everyone,” said Winter Park Resort President Sky Foulkes.

The final numbers for ridership on the ski train come just as Colorado and Union Pacific Railroad have signed an historic agreement to allow UP to continue operations through the state-owned Moffat Tunnel while also permitting the state to operate expanded passenger rail service on Union Pacific rails. CDOT is in the process of planning the re-establishment of passenger rail service from Denver to Craig, connecting communities in the Yampa Valley with the state's largest metro area.

Service is expected to start in phases over the next several years, with train service eventually serving Granby, Steamboat Springs, Hayden, Craig and other communities.