Alaska Railroad Reviews

The trip was painfully slow, over 10 hours. They should have warned us to dress extra warmly because the air conditioning was kept deliberately low. I suspect for them to sell more comfort food and drink

Very impressed in how they make the trip so seamless.
On Goldstar you check your luggage in at Anchorage and it is delivered direct to your hotel (no hassle). The dome seating gives good visuals and a great outside viewing deck is at rear of carriage.
Commentary was interesting and not overwhelming.
Food/dining was more than adequate and the small bar in the carriage was excellent.
Overall a very comfortable way to travel.

Taking this train was the main reason we wanted to go to Alaska. We actually started in Fairbanks (for 4 hours), got off in Denali for 2 nights, then got back on and went down to Anchorage (8 hours). We did the Adventure Class the first leg of the trip and it was just fine. They have an observation level (no assigned seats up there), where we went up to a few times. The cafe car was great, lots of food options and snacks. Staff was excellent and super nice. We played cards and drank coffee for a few hours. Views were great and they narrate the trip (on and off). Highly recommend this!!!

Wow! I can’t say enough great things about the employees and crew of the Alaska Railroad. I was running late due to a doctor apptmt in Seward and couldn’t get an Uber or taxi to take me to the train station. I was going to miss my train, and an employee of the train came to pick me up. The train only left a few minutes late, and I will forever be grateful to the employee that picked me up. This is a company that truly cares about their customers! Also, it was beautiful views out the window!

I can't say enough about Mary, our Conductor! She was funny and informative and walked through the cars chatting with people giving information on the different places we passed and answering all our questions. I enjoy this trip every time I go on it.

This trip was much cooler than I expected! The ride was smooth and easy, check-in was easy as could be and our luggage ended up right at the hotel without any effort on our part. We did the gold star level, which provided awesome domed cars, good breakfast service, and 2 drinks. Well worth the extra expense. The conductor told great stories - hope his “90 day contract” never ends.

We booked the Aurora Winter Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks in January 2024. The trip lasted about 12 hours, and we were able to exit the train and stretch our legs for a few minutes at two stops (Talkeetna and Denali). During the winter it is Adventure Class only - no domed observation car - which makes sense given the extreme cold.

The process of boarding was very organized. Cars and seats were assigned at check in. Staff was friendly and helpful. I appreciated the moose spotting and sightseeing tips along the way. We had beautiful, clear views of Denali, and the train even stopped for a few minutes at one spot to allow time for photos. I highly recommend getting the ride guide for more insight into what you are looking at as you travel through the landscape.

We ate all three meals in the dining car. Meals were scheduled via reservation and called in by car. Staff in the dining car was super friendly as well. The food itself was similar to what I’ve had on Amtrak dining cars. Limited options and on the expensive side, but good. If you’ve never eaten in a train dining car, be prepared to be seated at a table with randos if you are a group of 1 or 2. It’s part of the experience. There is also a cafe car if you’d rather do that.

Baggage claim at the end of the trip was just like baggage claim everywhere else - everyone stands around a big hole in the wall and waits for their bags to pop out.

The only thing I would improve is the amenities of the seats. The cars are “historic,” which looks cool, but after 12 hours a tray table and a charging port would be appreciated.

Seats are assigned a few days ahead. Call if you have request. First car is best. All board at same time. No need to be early

This was one of the things that I was looking forward to the most. I love trains and would have been happy just to ride one anywhere! But oh, the views! There is a compartment that is all clear so you can just watch the world go by and see all the animals. We did not see any nig game, but did see some mountain goats!! It was lovely.

Wow! So much fun!!! The views are amazing, the staff are so enthusiastic and helpful, and the train is extremely comfortable. Such a great way to see more of Alaska when you’re on a strict timeline. Would highly recommend!

First time to Alaska and it was recommended to take this trip from Seward to Anchorage, what an amazing trip full of views. We were even able to see a Bald Eagle nested in a tree AND a black bear climbing up the side of a mountain - what a bonus. The view of the glaciers and landscape were amazing. My mom uses a walker and there was an elevator to enable her to get to the 2nd floor to the GoldStar car. We had a nice meal in the dining car and the service overall was very good. Highly recommend this trip.

Upgraded to Good Star and glad we did! It was an amazing ride. The view of Mt Denali was breathtaking !

I was interested to experience the Alaska Railroad, and purchased tickets for the trip to Hurricane Gulch. It turned out to be a good move, as the day was overcast with some showers on and off. The view from the train was great and we enjoyed in particular, the vintage dome car. As one of the only remaining "flag" train, it is the only transportation for people who own some of the 1000 cabins that are accessed only by the train. As such it moves slowly, which is great for capturing some of the great scenery along the way. The stops are fun, and some allow people to disembark and photograph passing trains, or visit a delightful book cabin that features the work of Shannon Cartwright. The pinnacle of the ride is that the train stops on the iron bridge completed in 1923 and allows the passengers to peer down into the gulch through the large doors in the cargo car.

We took the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks and had an amazing experience. From baggage drop in anchorage to baggage claim in Fairbanks. On the trip, The views are amazing; the staff was so friendly and accommodating; and the food is surprisingly good. This is a great way to see Alaskas many terrains. The only downside is that you don’t stop for very long at each of the stops. We will do this again on our next visit to Alaska.

Tip: Try to get the seats that are on the top level. On a nice day, you will have an incredible view of Denali.

The trip was going well at the start of it until dinner time and baggage claim time. First came dinner, it started late, but things do happen in every kitchen and I’m not the kind of person expecting perfection ever. They call the first group of the B car of the ‘GoldStar Service’ (meal is included with this type of ticket. This is the best ticket anyone could buy for the trip) - [seat 18C and 18D of the 5-17-24 afternoon trip]. I noticed right away such first group was taking a very long time (my party of 5 were on the second group) and I immediately thought it was the passengers’ fault, however, shortly after we found out it was actually the kitchen’s fault. By the time the second group was called (our group) we were almost at the end of the trip and everyone was rushing. When I tried to order, the waiter expressed they could only served either a soup and salad or a dish. I was truly shocked since I never understood a soup and a salad was a ‘meal’. So, then we were told shortly after we couldn’t order soup either I was shocked. My guess is the kitchen person coordinating everything has no idea of what he/she is going, or the food was purposely brought short on board. I ended up ordering a Pot Roast and then the waiter said they had no gravy for the mashed potatoes. I just couldn’t believe it, and already upset I just asked her to bring it anyway since the rest of the menu was subpar anyway (only God knows what happened to people that ordered other items, but judging by the faces and conversations around the car people were not happy at all). Several of us in the car called for a manager, and a young kid that came by tried to apologize sincerely, but there was nothing he could do anyway. We specifically told him to make sure he communicated with his superiors that we wanted a refund for the dinner part of the trip and that we were extremely disappointed. He took our information down. When the food finally arrived I was just beside myself, ….. that looked like anything but ‘Pot Roast’. Took 2 bites and had to leave and return to my seat to make sure I didn’t lose my temper. Of course, I didn’t bother trying my desert.

When we finally arrived, then came the circus of claiming our baggage. They had loaded an actual ‘box truck’ with all the luggage at the terminal in Seward, which I thought the intention was to make sure everybody’s luggage was delivered ahead of time and placed in the destination terminal so people could take their bags faster. Boy was I surprised! When we arrived, we found out the truck, even though it was there for God knows how long, they had not even brought the luggage down. I have videos of the whole show. So three or four passengers had to help the driver and I guess his assistant bringing the luggage down from the truck and the passengers themselves had to kind of help each other to make sure everybody got their bags. A total circus. I just couldn’t believe it.

Bottom line, if anyone ever wants to take this trip, they need to know that yes, they will enjoy beautiful views. However, professionalism should not be expected, and quality should not be part of any type of food or other service offered, including wine. Also, if it’s possible, you may want to bring your luggage with you on the train, but if you have no choice, make sure you know the expectations and also tag those luggage pieces really well, so they don’t get confused at the end of the destination.

I was not totally sure about this longer train trip (after just taking the train from Fairbanks to Denali). Wow was I wrong. Just spectacular views and we are part of the 30% who got to see the majestic top of Denali. Conductor slowed as the view came into sight for all to see. The time literally flew by. We did splurge on the GoldStar service and it was worth it from our fun drinks to good food as well as outdoor viewing and indoor glass rooftop. The only issue we had was some of the cottonwood seed caused the front of our car to be warmer as it was clogging the vents.

DO THIS!!!
Our cruise was out of Seward and we decided this was the best way to get there from Anchorage.
Oh Me Oh My! Wow!
1. Check in was extremely busy. Lots of cruisers and the Depot felt pretty small. Get here early and book ahead of time to save your spot.
2. Boarding was easy. The train is older but it felt very comfortable. I kind of felt like i was stepping back in time to the 1940s. So old, but charming , clean, and comfortable.
3. The ride was smooth. Get a good night sleep. Otherwise it will rock you right to sleep.
4. The views are spectacular. Yo can move about the cabin(s). We stayed put most of the time. It was so beautiful. There was no bad view from anywhere.
5. The bathrooms needed attention after 2-3 hours. This was the one down side. It was pretty icky in there.
MUST DO!!!

This was excellent experience. We opted for the goldstar service and it did not disappoint. Had a very nice breakfast and two alcoholic drinks per person were included with the package which was great. Tour narration was very good and we saw beautiful scenery and a moose and some glaciers on the way from Anchorage to Seward. Domed car was well worth it and you could also stand outside on platforms for fresh air and viewing. They also will transport your luggage to your hotel for you if you would like which we did and we had no problems. We made our reservations online and well in advance in the fall 2024.

What fun experience. The views are gorgeous. The staff is very kind, helpful, knowledge and fun! The food was very good, with a nice selection. It was everything we'd hoped it would be.

Excursion was well organized. Train was comfortable. Multiple dining options available. Helpful commentary about history and wildlife.

Went as a part of a tour group. Yes, we had our own cars. But let me tell you, we had a wonderful 4 hours from Fairbanks to Denali. Breakfast was expertly done. The best egg scramble ever!! Don’t miss the one with reindeer sausage. Everything was perfect. And I don’t know how they pulled it off with the elders, but Fall came early, and skies cleared enough to seen Denali from the clearings at Nenana. What an amazing trip.

Great rip and the scenery was outstanding
The train was very comfortable and easy to access the viewing coach
The sound of the commentary was poor sadly

Fantastic train journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Beautiful scenery. Comfy train. Enjoyed the commentary and the food in the dining car was very good. Saw lots of wildlife en route. Staff were very professional and helpful. Highly recommended!

Great train ride with beautiful views and a great experience. We elected to go the Goldstar passage so we were in the glass dome car and had a private dining car below for breakfast and dinner. The meals were better than you would expect and the cocktails made for a relaxing trip. Saw several moose along the way but the views were the best part. Staff was helpful and accomodating. Would recommend for a relaxing day in Anchorage.

This was a wonderful experience. The scenery was beautiful. The tour guide said the 7 black bear we saw on August 16, 2025 Hurricane Turn train was a record for this year. My only suggestion would be to make it a little warmer in the dome section as many people were commenting on how cold they were on the way back.

Lucked out with a beautiful clear day! Breathtaking views and very informative tour guides educate you on the history, geology and ecology of the area. They told stories of some of the more colorful people that made up the history of Alaska. The staff were all very polite and eager to help with what ever the passengers needed. All in all, a great experience.

We rode this train from Denali to Anchorage to catch our flight back home to Colorado that evening. We almost missed the flight because the train was running several hours late due to having to rescue 9 Princess Cruise cars that got stranded when their locomotive broke down. The staff, though, did everything they could to get crews swapped when their shift timed out, get power to the rescued cars so they could keep the lights on, get the extra cars disconnected in Anchorage and let my wife and I be the first ones off the train at the depot so we could get to baggage claim before the mob showed up. Everything worked out in the end. We opted for the Gold service, which was excellent in all respects. The food was very good, the cars were very comfortable and the outdoor area was a treat from which to view the scenery. We rarely sat inside. We even had a rare sighting of Denali. A highlight of the trip, besides the excellent service and the spectacular scenery, was when we passed another train on it's way up to Denali. Our friends were on it and both trains were stopped on the tracks at the same time. We could see them as the trains slowly started moving and we were close enough to slap each others' hands as we passed. That's got to be a very rare occurrence, indeed. This is probably one of the most impressive train rides in the U.S., and we highly recommend doing it if you're ever in Alaska.

We did the same day round trip from Anchorage. The 4 hour trip each way was scenic with multiple opportunities to see wildlife. We saw moose and bald eagles. The train slowed down to allow for photos to be taken. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and well versed in customer service. I would highly recommend traveling this route on the Alaska Railway.

This train ride was fantastic! Of course, very scenic. GoldStar Service Class is must with comfortable reserved seats, wonderful staff and delicious breakfast. We were unable to book in advance (cruise ships and Road Scholar book everything well in advance) but were able to upgrade at the station the day before we boarded. Well worth the effort!

We had never ridden a train before and so we had no clue what to expect. All staff, on the train and at the station were friendly, efficient and helpful. We had the Gold Star service and we ate breakfast lunch and dinner. All meals were excellent with good sized portions. The facilities were well maintained and clean both on the train and at the various stations. The conductor pointed out sights of interest during the ride and also provided some history. They even pointed out animals on the route. I was most impressed with how the railroad and the various hotels handled the luggage. The luggage was tagged not only to our next destination but also to the hotel we were staying at. Each time our luggage was at our door shortly after checking in at the hotel. On checking out, the hotel tagged out luggage for our next destination, specified the time to have it outside our door and it was picked up and taken directly to the train for us. It couldn’t have been easier. Cheers to a great job Alaska Railroad!

Romantic railroad journey. We love train trips and this did not disappoint!! We rode Gold Class and the first thing that happened was a wonderful breakfast served as we rolled along to Denali. Then a great lunch! Plus two alcoholic drinks (and a nap!). We would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for luxury and style!

Train was very uncomfortable. No charging ports! It poured out the entire time in Seward. Went back to train station at 3 pm.
I am disabled and had to stand because people that weren't disabled took the disability seat.

The scenery from the train was amazing. We saw moose, wolves, and bald eagles as well as many tracks in the snow. Food and drink service was plentiful and well managed. The guides on the train made announcements with interesting facts along the way. The train stopped long enough to get off and stretch our legs at both Denali and Talkeetna. Twelve hours is a bit long though and I wish we had brought some cards or a little game to play during the less stunning parts of the ride.

Train ride was scenic but long. Not recommended for children- as we saw how bored and antsy they were. Never visited the food car but heard it was pricey,

It was interesting to know the lives of people who live far from the villages and only the railway is the means of contact with the city

We took the train from Anchorage to Seward and returned the next day from Seward to Anchorage. The Anchorage train station needs a better set up for getting tickets in an orderly fashion and put seating in for older passengers when the train is late as was ours. Also, we should have been informed immediately so as not to worry about missing our Kenai Fjords cruise. We had the Gold Star option with breakfast going out and dinner on our return. The train itself with the open dome car and the viewing area is immaculate and comfortable. We saw some fabulous scenery including mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, canyons, etc. The conductors on both trips were great as were the persons serving drinks. Our one major disappointment on both trips was the dining options and service. The Alaska railroad should take lessons from the Rocky Mountaineer with both food options and meal service which really makes you feel you are having a 5 star experience.

We scheduled ourselves for the train from Seward to Anchorage following an inland passage cruise. So much better than taking the bus plus, reservations for dome car are a must. The dome car tickets included a dinner on the train, downstairs in the dining area, accompanied with beer/wine. The food was delicious with dessert served back upstairs in the dome area. What a treat. The train leaves Seward at 6 pm and arrives in Anchorage at 10:15 pm. No problem since it stays light until after 10':30.
Suggestion: check in by 3:30 so you don't have to stand in a long line. Everyone seemed to stack up after 4:00 for check-in. Just me but I don't like to stress.

The Alaska Railroad lives up to the hype and is worth every penny. The standard fare is excellent—no need to upgrade—with unforgettable scenery that makes this journey truly special. A must-do experience in Alaska!

Amazing scenery. Our tour guide was exceptional! Enjoyed breakfast and dinner in the dining car. Details of the trip were well explained. Staff was always available and approachable. First rate all the way around. Highly recommend.

What an incredible trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks! The best way to see Alaska's diverse scenery. We had a beautiful sunny day for our trip and were lucky enough to see Denali in it's splendor. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful with regular commentary about things of interest for us to see. If you purchase the guide book at the station ($5) you can pick out the mile markers on the right side of the tracks and read along. There were moose, dall sheep, and eagles to see. We ate lunch and dinner in the dining car. Food was reasonably priced, excellent and delicious. The grab and go snacks in the snack car were limited so it is definitely worth it to eat in the dining car. As a seasoned rail traveler across the US, this was another trip to check off my bucket list. A trip well worth doing on a visit to Alaska!

This was the BEST day of our entire trip. We had an absolute blast. We had 3 generations and the trip was perfect for all of us.

If you can, upgrade to Gold Star. It is worth every penny! The dining room was lovely and the outdoor viewing platform was perfect for photos (and fresh air).

On the train we saw moose, Beluga whales, eagles, and sheep.

We booked Aunt May’s Taxi for the day in Seward and I’m SO glad we did! It was the perfect way to see Seward. May was born and raised in Seward and knows everything about the town!

May dropped is at Seavys for a dog sled adventure and then picked us up for the rest of our adventure.

Can’t recommend the trip enough!

I highly recommend this train trip. Very comfortable seating, beautiful scenery, so relaxing. All railway staff were friendly and helpful. An all-around enjoyable experience!

We had high expectations for our trip on the AR. It was pretty expensive, and we were looking forward to it. We weren't in the GoldStar car. Depending on your goal, this trip can be really good or not good at all. We rode the train 3 times because that's what we had planned. If we could have changed our trip in Denali, we would have rented a car there and drove the rest of the way. However, if you want the experience of riding the rails which is quite nostalgic and fun for a while, this trip is definitely for you; but, if you want to get from point A to point B to have more time at your destination, rent a car!

We went from Anchorage to Denali, Denali to Talkeetna, and Talkeetna back to Anchorage. The roads are good to Denali, we were told, and you can still see the sights, and get there a lot faster. The conductor was very good on the trip to Denali about slowing down to see wildlife or seeing beautiful views of Alaska.

The train left on time from Anchorage, but we arrived in Denali later than expected. It seemed to be a running joke with some of the locals that the train is usually late, which we found to be true. Our trip from Talkeetna back to Anchorage was an hour and a half late. It was supposed to leave at 5:20pm and arrive at 8:00pm in Anchorage. By the time we got our luggage in Anchorage, it was after 10pm. Getting luggage in Anchorage was quite chaotic. One person beside us described it as a cattle call. They need to find a better way.

Being in the regular cars, we could go into the "cafe" for lunch. They had premade sandwiches, a pretzel, etc.

Overall, the AR got us where we needed to go safely. The staff were all very nice. It's all about preference. Ours would be to rent a car next time. We were glad we rode on it, but one leg of our trip on the rails would have definitely been enough for us.

It was a great experience. As the train went through Girdwood, Whittier, and Spencer Glacier, we saw wildlife and beautiful nature with commentary by guides. We also went rafting at Spencer Glacier with our excellent tour guide, Emily Hickox. I highly recommend it.

Our first trip to Alaska was highlighted by our experience with the Alaska Railroad.

Our rides on the Coastal Classic and the Denali Star was a perfect way to witness some of Alaska’s incredible beauty and learn about some of its history along the way.

Johanna and Gavin, our car attendants/guides bent over backwards to provide incredible memories. They succeeded.

I would whole-hardheartedly recommend the Gold Star Service. It's a few bucks more but entirely worth it!

We booked the Aurora train. The train from Anchorage to Fairbanks is a long ride but well worth the time. We saw moose - under the tress, in the water, and in the fields. When leaving Anchorage keep an eye on the tops of the trees. We saw a few eagle nests each with an eagle either in the nest or on a branch close by.
The train has a dining car which we are fed in sections. It is all very quick and organized. The train is aa very smooth ride.
The only thing that could be improved upon is having cup holders and trays at each seat.

This was the 2nd leg of our train ride trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage. We spent 2 nights in Denali and then got back on the train for the long ride to Anchorage. The 8 hours went by faster than expected and the weather wasn’t great but still we had lots to see. There are announcements and highlights given along the way. We had lunch and dinner (Gold Star) and they were not only delicious but also filling. We were barely hungry at dinner time. The train pulled in a little late and we had ordered an Uber but he had left so we walked to the Hotel from the Anchorage train depot. The bags took a short time to reach the bag area and the walk was not bad after sitting all day. The Gold Star seating is wonderful (upstairs with large seats and table tops like an airplane, domed glass above us and much larger than the other less expensive seating. Definitely opt for Gold Star reservations! 2 Drink tix are included per person as well.

Nice lake view. Too far away from the glaciers. Too much time (4 hours). Few options of food and drinks… The train is Too slow!!!

Comments on riding the Alaska Railroad from Denali to Anchorage: We loved it, but do take note - the first 2-3 hours have great mountain views, and then there's a long, comparatively dull stretch where you can't see the forest for the trees. Near the end of the journey things pick up again - better scenery, with mountains.

Dinner offered cod or pot roast. The cod was great, and was easily the better choice (based on tasting both). There was also an alcoholic blueberry drink that we all really liked.

The Coastal Classic Gold Star was an absolute memory maker, the views and the crew made for a magical time.

THIS IS A MUST TO SEE ALASKA! Forget driving and take the Alaska Railroad so that EVERYONE can enjoy the scenic views!. GOLDSTAR is definitely worth the extras, too. From Anchorage to Denali the views are incredible. We saw mountains, a peak of the top of Denail (Mt. McKinley), rivers, streams, wildlife, eagles, trumpeter swans, the Alaska Range. Well I could go on and on. AND GOLDSTAR provides you with so much it is well worth the little difference in price.: AMAZING views from large side to above-your-head windows, a large open view car, comfortable seating, great commentary by knowledgeable staff for the entire trip, delicious meals plated elegantly, great service from friendly staff, non-alcoholic drinks and two alcoholic drinks are all part of the package. All windows are extremely clean enhancing your viewing experience. And you travel without having to watch a map or being aware of wildlife crossing. Sit back and enjoy the Alaska Railroad - this is the way to see Mainland Alaska!

My family went in September after the peak of tourist season was over. For the most part it was a good experience and we were able to see parts of Alaska that aren't accessible by car. The scenery was beautiful, the narration was good, and the seats were comfortable. The downside is that the lights remained on inside the train so most of my pictures have a glare off the windows. The other down side is that I dropped hundreds of dollars on the train, but then have to spend an additional $20 dollars to park in the depot parking lot. Offer free parking or include parking in the price

We did the Denali Star GoldStar Service from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back. The seats were comfortable enough with plenty of legroom. We enjoyed using the open back deck to spot wildlife. The food was very bland and geared towards the midwestern taste. I’m from Louisiana and like flavor in my food. There needed to be a few more options for the dinner service. The bread pudding on the breakfast menu was the best thing served all day.

The train station has bathrooms and a gift shop. You can take pictures outside. Upon arrival we gave our luggage with our cruise luggage tag and they handled delivery all the way to cruise ship, wonderful! No hassle.

We had a beautiful sunny day with stunning views of Denali as we rode the train (12+ hours) from Anchorage to Fairbanks. We did the Gold Star car with the glass roof and meals served in the dining car. Our only issue was it took a full hour (we were the last container) to get baggage.

Riding the Alaska Railroad to Denali is THE way to go! Yes, it's 7+ hours; however, well worth it. Driving would take 5+ hours and you would not get the incredible views you get from the train. Riding the train is very "old school"; no digital tickets; no apps. People checking your luggage, adding tags to your place of accommodation in Denali, paper boarding passes and lots of friendly smiles! Riding the train is a very social and enjoyable experience!

If possible, book the Gold Star service (it's pricey and worth it). On the train, there are 2 Gold Star "cars", you sit up top with a dining car beneath. From Anchorage to Denali you will be served breakfast and lunch. The train leaves at ~8:30am; however you probably won't eat breakfast until 10:00am or 10:30am and lunch until 2pmish, so plan accordingly. At meals you are sitting with other people from the Gold Star cars which creates a very social atmosphere. The Gold Star cars have covered viewing areas at the back of each car; great for picture taking and getting fresh air. There is also a bar in each of the Gold Star cars.

You are encouraged to walk through the train (2 engines, a baggage car - not accessible), 2 Gold Star cars (only accessible to Gold Star passengers), a Bistro car and 2 other passenger cars (fully accessible). Tour Guides provide narration as you travel North to Denali. Everyone on the train is encouraged to point out wildlife (we saw 4 moose). A highlight and great picture opportunity is the trestle across Hurricane Gulch which is over 900 feet long and ~300 feet high. For safety reasons the train moves slowly over the trestle which allows for great picture taking and views over the side of the train.

The views get better the further North you go; once you get North of Talkeetna things really open up. If you are fortunate, you may even get a glimpse of Mount Denali (only 30% of visitors actually see it).

Friendly staff roam the train answering any & all questions. Bathrooms are in every car and easily accessible. Maximum speed of the train is 60 mph.

We were so impressed that all was handled perfectly by Alaska rail. Our tickets and activities were all arranged for us. Terrific when you actually get what you paid for when so far from home.

Loved it both ways, we went Goldstar and it’s worth paying the extra, and if you do get served by Nellie she is the best, very bubbly and has great customer service and is great to chat to.

We used the Alaska Costal Railroad for our transportation from Seward to Anchorage following a cruise. We opted for the Gold Star Service, which included vista-dome seating and dinner aboard. While we left Seward at 6 pm, the long days meant that we had plenty of daylight to enjoy the breathtaking views from the train. This is a leisurely 4 hour trip - with so much to see along the way. It was the perfect finish to a spectatular Alaska cruise.

The train is very much an experience and is a pleasant way to travel through Alaska. I recommend that you book ahead of time to get the gold star service. This will get you upper-level seating. The dining car is below. We traveled round trip from Anchorage to Talkeetna for the day. The timing was such that it made for a good day trip. Gold star service includes breakfast in the morning trip and dinner on the evening trip. It also includes unlimited soft drinks and two adult beverages with each ticket. The seats are comfortable. There is an outdoor viewing deck on each car. Ticketing was organized and efficient despite a crowded Anchorage station. They ask you to arrive an hour early. In Anchorage, that is about right. There is a gift shop and a pretty good coffee kiosk in the station. You will get on the train about 20-30 minutes before departing.

Our tickets for the Alaska Railroad were Adventure Class. We didn't feel we needed food and drinks in a 4 hour trip. The seats were comfortable and spacious. We could walk from car to car and go up a few stairs to the dome car for better views if we wanted. There was a dining car with snacks and beverages of all types.

Mary was wonderful and the engineers and conductor were fabulous! It was a great experience. Our entire family (included 3 teenagers) loved the trip. We would recommend this trip.

The railroad experience was very cool! Awesome scenery from Denali to Fairbanks. We’ve had the best customer service experience here - I accidentally booked a ticket on the wrong date and the staff were able to help me book a new reservation but also refunded my duplicate booking error in full. I’m very appreciative of all the help and great customer service. Thank you!

Alaska Railroad Review – Gold Star Class Experience

We had an absolutely amazing experience with the Alaska Railroad and their tour services. From the very beginning, the customer service stood out — we live in Florida and spent close to two hours on the phone customizing our trip. The staff was patient, knowledgeable, and eager to help us create the perfect itinerary.

We chose to upgrade to Gold Star Class, and it was worth every penny. Meals on the train were included, along with unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic beverages per person for each leg of the journey. The food was surprisingly good, and every staff member we encountered was friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do.

Our route took us from Anchorage to Seward and Talkeetna, with periodic returns to Anchorage. We spent two nights in Talkeetna and loved every moment. The excursions we booked through Alaska Railroad were fantastic and perfectly coordinated with our travel schedule. They truly excel at helping guests customize their adventures.

We did encounter one small hiccup when weather prevented us from completing part of a glacier plane landing excursion. Initially, the refund didn’t appear on our credit card statement, but after one quick call to Alaska Railroad, they contacted the excursion provider and the refund was processed within four hours. That level of responsiveness really impressed us.

Overall, this is truly an A+ operation. The scenery was breathtaking, the service outstanding, and the whole trip felt seamless. I would highly recommend Alaska Railroad to anyone looking to experience the magic of Alaska in comfort and style.

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We rode Gold Star which included great meals in dining car. The seats were very comfortable with a tray for drinks. Bar service was provided. The staff was great. They deliver your luggage to your hotel for free. You climb up a curved, tight staircase into your train. It’s glass domed for beautiful views. There is an area to walk outside as well. This was our favorite part of our trip to Denali-riding the Alaska Train. It is expensive but is worth it if you aren’t pinching pennies. It is cheaper to take the bus and an hour faster too. But we worried about getting sick riding the big bus. Did not on the train.

The Alaska Railroad is a top notch operation with unbelievable views, friendly staff, and clean trains. The Anchorage to Seward train is a long, but must do day trip. If you're coming to Alaska and don't ride the train, you're missing out on an iconic experience. Employees Reece, Gavin, Johanna, and Savannah were great conversation during the journey.

The train ride was amazing!!

I would suggest not purchasing tickets thru TripAdvisor as they didn’t get me tickets until 4 days after order & after I had to email multiple times.

I purchased a set directly from railroad for less money. Since TripAdvisor wouldn’t refund me, Alaska Railroad did for my second set.

Buy direct and you will have an amazing time!

Fun, relaxing excursion. Gained insight as to how some locals live off the grid. Beautiful scenery!!

I’d rate this experience as a negative 100 if I could. I am doing a once-in-a-lifetime trip with my elderly parents. We paid $1,335 for three tickets to enjoy Gold Star service and amenities. We were scheduled to travel one-way from Fairbanks to Anchorage.
We understood the railroad to be highly rated and a great experience. We left Fairbanks on time. All was going well for three hours.
We suddenly stopped in Healy, Alaska because staff had just become aware of a landslide that happened hours earlier (potentially even before the train left the station, no one would give a time and tried to brush off the question of “what time did the landslide occur”).
Staff were woefully unaware of when service may resume. Initially, it was communicated that the wait may be 20 minutes. After two hours, the staff communicated that we would not be continuing onward. What appeared to be a small clean up on the tracks ballooned into an “unpredictable act of Mother Nature that never happens,” requiring inspectors to sign off on bridge clean up for the landslide.
We were stuck on the train from 11:30 to 1:30. Despite the uncertainty in when train service may resume, and despite paying for Gold Star service which includes meals, the Alaska Railroad company told its food service vendor not to provide lunch to us.
The railroad staff could not be found while they were trying to arrange back up plans, and the food service staff awkwardly lingered explaining that they had nothing to do with railroad operations.
Finally, at 1:30, we were put on to busses after several confusing announcements with conflicting information. These busses transported us to Denali national park, where we then waited for another hour to board coach busses.
During the hour wait, we were yelled at to get out of the way of luggage handlers; told to call ticket office about resolutions and refunds (which, the ticket office is closed on Sundays); and not provided any food or water. This was particularly stressful given my dad is diabetic.
Also during this time, we were told that the train cuts service this time of year due to weather conditions similar to the one we experienced, which called into question this whole “unpredictable act of Mother Nature” rhetoric that the company employees were clearly trying to convey to avoid having their employer issue refunds or petty lawsuits.
The only saving grace is that eventually, there was a coach bus to take us to Anchorage.
There’s not been any communication from the railroad company on this “unpredictable act of Mother Nature” several hours later, which further reiterates that the company cannot be bothered to reach out to its customers on what must be some routine weather outages.
Alaska Railroad Company needs to do better.

Spectacular! My wife and I booked a day trip from Anchorage to Seward with few stops along the way. This is the best way to see so much of wild, scenic, and breathtaking Alaska in a short time. The Gold Star experience was exhilarating! The dinner was exquisite. Food was super delicious. It’s fine-dining on board a railroad train passing through a majestic forest, snow-capped mountains, water falls, lagoons, and occasional sight of moose and bears. We will do it again!

The railroad tour to Denali offers some of the best photographic in Alaska without doubt and the guide we had was entertaining and very knowledgeable.

The drawbacks included the 12 hour expected length of the trip and the frequent slowdowns due to other trains on the line. There was insufficient staff to serve lunch in anywhere an an appropriate period of time. My wife and I had to wait an hour to get our food—which was very good but completely slow to be served.

We took the train from Anchorage to Seward and then back to Anchorage the next day. We chose the cheaper Adventure Class and glad we did! The seats reclined and had foot rests, we had access to a domed car and could stand outside on a platform! We had dinner in the dining car, but we had to wait a long time before our car was called to go down. The meal was good and less expensive than any other meal we had in Alaska! The excursions in Seward also make sure you're back in time for the train. Most I found will pick up and drop off at the station. Make sure you check in and get your boarding pass! The ticket does NOT get you on the train!

Alaska Train travel is unsurpassed when it comes to traveling the interior. We did two trips: 1. Anchorage to Seward; and 2. Denali to Fairbanks. The ride, the beauty and the pictures are great! Highly recommend.

Loved this experience! Train staff super nice, helpful, and enthusiastic. Views unforgettable! We were group of 10 who thoroughly enjoyed our trip from Anchorage to Denali and back a few days later. Awesome experience! Staff member Sirena was so engaging!!
The heated outdoor waiting area at Denali was just the ticket on a cold, rainy afternoon.
Suggest: fix your speaker system in Anchorage depot! None of us could understand the garbled noise coming out of the ancient speaker.
Otherwise, highly recommend.

We had the opportunity to sample all three ways of traveling on segments of this route (Wilderness Express, Alaska Railroad Gold Star, and Alaska Railroad Adventure Class). For this segment (Denali to Anchorage), we went in Adventure Class to save some money on the return. The views, as always, were stunning, but the service/experience was not good. The car smelled like onions or garbage, and aside from the overhead rack (which kids can't reach) there's no storage at your seat — why no seatback pockets?

Worst of all, the food options were *terrible* — when we saw the menu (hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches) we thought it would be OK, but the way it works is you get a pre-wrapped cheeseburger out of a fridge (no toppings available), pay for it, and then you microwave it yourself. You microwave a cheeseburger, that you paid $10+ for, and it tastes like plain school lunch food. And just to add insult to injury, the credit card receipt has a tip line. For the cheeseburger that you have to microwave yourself. Even the non-microwaved stuff, like the turkey and cheese sandwich, tasted like it was a day (or more) old. I know it's not sit-down/full-service/cook-to-order dining like Gold Star, but really? Come on. You're on the train for 8 hours (or in our case, 9.5 because of a delay). The food options really need to be improved — at least have hot food be actually hot. Gas stations have better solutions for serving hot dogs. McDonald's cheeseburgers would be a huge upgrade.

This was a wonderful trip. The train was a lot of fun for the first time on a train. We got to see beautiful country and Seward was really cool.

What a beautiful ride this was. Lovely in every way. The comfortable seats, the wonderful food and staff in the dining car, the views, the narration for every point of interest, the availability to move around pretty much anywhere on the train. Wonderful all together. I loved talking to two young men in the staff area while I charged my phone. They were amazed at my living in Florida stories. Like most people, they think alligators will hunt you down. Oh, they were fun.

The guide, Mary, was excellent. Warm, personable with great attention to details, history and wildlife. Smooth ride at a good pace, so there was no rushing. Several stops to get out, or to take photos of the great scenery.

My husband and I took the train from Anchorage to Seward yesterday. First, let me say that this is a must-do for those visiting Anchorage. We purchased our tickets online and the check-in to obtain boarding passes as well as boarding was very streamlined. Above all, the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The commentators offered knowledgeable information along the way. I jokingly said that airport staff can take some lessons from these kind people.

Spent 8.5 hours taking the GoldStar Service from Talkeetna to Fairbanks, and saw some beautiful scenery on the comfortable, large, outdoor viewing deck! Trains are fun in general, the seats are comfortable, and Alaska is beautiful because it's Alaska. All in all, it was a nice train ride! However, the GoldStar experience was a bit lacking.

We had taken the Wilderness Express car the day before (which was an amazing experience with great customer service that exceeded our expectations), and were thinking GoldStar's service would be as good or perhaps even better, given the high price and advertised prestige. However, it SO paled in comparison - it was a night and day difference.

The GoldStar train car staff weren't particularly communicative, and the tour narration was sporadic and difficult to hear. We were seated for 2 meals and had our drinks, but were expecting higher food/drink quality and attention to detail. (Yes, it's nice that it's included in the price, but we would've rather paid for more gourmet/varied options.)

In sum, it didn't feel like an exclusive experience, more like a regular train ride with a few added perks... and at this high price point, that's a huge disappointment - particularly when there is a far superior alternative that you can book instead.

Rode Adventure class on Denali Star and Coastal Classic, both memorable trips, spent time in viewing car, talked to other travelers. Loved Coastal Classic, scenery was stunning, sit down meal in the dining car. Denali Star was iconic-Hurricane Gulch was awesome. Employees were professional but warm and made the experience even better.

Our vacation involved a 7-day trip on the Alaska Railroad, so we’ve been all the way from Fairbanks to Seward. Overall, it is extremely convenient. Check-in is simple, and they handle your luggage for you, even picking it up from our hotel room at Denali. Food on board is OK. Our only complaint is there appears to be no policy to address passengers that board even though they are ill. A lady in our car coughed the entire 8 hours from Denali to Anchorage and requested to eat by herself due to illness. No action was taken to isolate her or protect other passengers.

We travelled for about 2.5 hours from Whittier to Anchorage. It was an a really good trip. Going threw the Portage Tunnel was pretty cool but you can not see anything but the line of cars waiting to go threw once the train is done. It was a grey day but could still see some wildlife from the train. We also had a awesome person narrating. We learned a lot about Silt mud. This cart had 4 people to a table and big beautiful windows. You can se out the top. They offered food and drink.

Simply put - this is a MUST SEE bucket list activity in life. I (along with wife, children, grandchildren) have enjoyed the Alaskan Railroad multiple times from about 2013 to 2025. Anchorage to Fairbanks and return. I have not done the Anchorage to Seward route but have driven.

The Alaskan Railroad is iconic - with rich, historical ties to Alaska. We have experienced both the Summer Denali Train (Goldstar service is worth it if you can afford) and the Winter Aurora Trains (one class only in Winter). The trains are safe, reliable and comfortable. Toilets on board each car. Stunning views of snow-capped mountains, rivers, towns, gorge/trestle and if fortunate one can see the "Tall One" Denali. Wildlife spotting (moose, eagles, ptarmigans...maybe bear, wolves... if lucky) are almost guaranteed. All trains have sit down dining car with breakfast, lunch and dinner with about 5 options each meal. There is also another casual dining option (cafe) with seating or carry out to your seating. Beer/wine/cocktails (about 8-10) are available all day long. All food quality and service is very good. Prices reasonable - some may think expensive but dining in general in Alaska is higher priced than lower 48 for obvious reasons. Wait staff often from other countries but quite friendly and effective. Communication is no issue.

Buy the $5 train route guidebook to make your journey more informative.

Add this to your list of experiences to have in life. Guaranteed to enjoy!

The trip from Anchorage to Seward by train is an absolute must if you are in Alaska. We had spent the previous 3 days touring Alaska by rental car and did not see anything close to what the train trip afforded us. Staff were amazing and the train is very comfortable.

Amazing trip!! Amazing experience!! Staff were friendly and the train was neat and clean!! Would do the train trip again on a future Alaska trip!!

We rode the Denali express on three occasions during our trip - once gold star service from Fairbanks to Talkeetna and then Talkeetna to Anchorage and on a third occasion Adventurer class from Anchorage to Whittier for the purposes of a glacier boat trip.
Riding the train is a must for a trip to Alaska, whether 3 trips lasting for c.10 hours is strictly necessary I’m not sure. It’s certain not the fastest way to travel although of course allows a more relaxing journey with the ability to see much scenery along the way. Gold star was slightly nicer although not a massive difference to the adventurer class. On longer journeys it was nice to have breakfast/dinner on board although the food on offer is definitely variable….the breakfast was nice enough with good choice - the lunch was more basic - the quesadillas we had were like student dorm fare and pretty grim. Enjoyment of the journey is definitely enhanced by the train crew commentary along the way but this again can be variable.

This is an expensive option, and it starts of going through Anchorage so we were nervous about it for a while, but then you eventually make it south and find the majestic beauty of Alaska. You get your bags to the train and next time you see them is in your state room on the cruise. If it is in your price range worth a trip. The train was full for our trip down the shore.

Very enjoyable way to see the country side, great views! Take the time to see moose, duck and other animals. We stopped and were able to see both Sammon and Trout.

GOLDSTAR service

Cost: $585
Date: 09/19/2023

Sad to give this experience 1 star, because I live here and want to be proud. I started getting asked by the 2024 visitors on whether or not this trip is a good idea, and that reminded me to post this review of the 2023 trip.

Trip from Anchorage to Girdwood takes 75 minutes. The railroad does not shift the train schedule to adjust for when Alaska starts rapidly losing the daylight towards the end of the summer, so out of the 75 minutes, the first 45 were in complete darkness.

As soon as we boarded, we were asked if we were only travelling to Girdwood and assured we would be the first to be seated at the restaurant and first to be served breakfast, so that we would have enough time to eat. Unfortunately, we were seated the absolute last and if the food was brought to the table just 5 minutes later than it had been, we wouldn’t have even had the time to taste the food. Entertainment-wise at the restaurant, while waiting, we watched the server pour a glass of water right from the facet with a sign “Not for drinking” and bring it to someone’s table.

By that time it got light outside, so my dad stepped on the open deck to take a photo. That’s when the person in charge came running and yelling “Quick! Quick! Those getting off at Girdwood, get ready! Quick!” What an atmosphere of nervousness and rush. I’m not particularly sensitive, yet this experience felt like getting quickly kicked off before the train took off immediately. I’m mostly disappointed for my visitors who were left with this bad taste in the mouth.

In 15 years of living here, probably the most disappointing “touristy” experience of all. Unfortunately. I think Alaska can do better.

The train left an hour behind schedule due to trouble with the engine but they told us that as soon as we checked in so we had time to wander around downtown Talkeetna which is a quant small town. The narration on the train was fun and educational. We stopped on the Hurricane gulch bridge and they opened the cargo cars doors so we could see the drop off. It was beautiful but not for those afraid of heights. We really enjoyed the travel through beauty that you can not see from the roadways. Would recommend to bring your own food and water for the 4.5 hour ride.
We would recommend this ride if you have 1/2 day to spend enjoying the beautiful nature without having to drive.

Delightful trip to Denali National Park. 7.5 hrs. Breakfast and lunch was included with our Gold Star purchase. The commentator was beside himself with how clear a day it was for viewing Mt Denali in the distance. Great ride.

Road the train from Anchorage to Whittier. I really enjoyed the trip since I had not ridden a train in 60 years. The train was clean and the ride was smooth for a train. We got to ride through the longest railway tunnel in the US. Staff was great.

The train was very comfortable and smooth. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. At the dinning car the service was great and the food was better than expected.

Beautiful views of glaciers and rivers. Breakfast was great, seating areas were comfortable and clean. Easy boarding with great service.

It is worth every penny to travel in Gold than go Adventure class. With Gold Class, the car that I was in had a back patio so that you could go outside and get better pictures. Breakfast was a nice perk, but due to the size of the dining car, I didn't get breakfast until 9:30am, and I had to check in at 5:30am. Thankfully, I planned and had a snack. The ride has views that are beyond stunning. Pictures don't do it justice! The train was a bit short staffed, but they did an amazing job! I will ride the train again!

On the last day of April, my husband and I embarked on the Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter train, a journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage. For 12 hours, we marveled at the winter wonderland of Alaska’s mountain ranges, sparkling and majestic. We caught a glimpse of Denali, the crown jewel of the land, on a rare clear day. We were filled with awe and joy. The train offered us delicious food to savor. But what made the trip so delightful, was the warm and friendly staff on the train that day. They entertained us with their personal stories and enlightened us with their knowledge of Alaska’s history. Those memories are etched in our hearts forever. We are grateful to the Alaska Railroad staff for their dedication and service.

I like trains and train rides. We first took the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali. I highly recommend the dome car, which was less crowded than expected. The scenery was good at times, but the bulk of what could be seen during the ride was a surprisingly monotonous mix of trees and marsh. Still, we enjoyed it.

The Denali-to-Anchorage stretch was better. The first 2-3 hours featured great mountain views. Then there was a long, dull stretch where you couldn't see the forest for the trees. Mountains were a thing again as we got near Anchorage. BTW, the cod dinner was great, and better than the pot roast.

Final thought: whoever designed the hideous "ALASKA RAILROAD CENTENNIAL YEAR" logo really outdid themselves. That thing should be featured in a Stephen King movie.

The crew members were very friendly and helpful. Scenery was spectacular during daylight hours. The engine suffered multiple mechanical issues causing unplanned stops. The stops were not an issue but the electrical shutdowns adversely impacted food service due to interrupted power to their computer. The kitchen gave tour groups preferential seating, so as independent travelers we were last to be served at lunch and dinner. Our dinner was a rushed 15 minute gulp down of warm food as we arrived at Fairbanks. Alaska Railroad did not value us as independent travelers! They quickly took our money, but catered to tour groups.

I had taken the Denali Star ride the day before, and this one was cheaper and much more scenic. We saw bears and goats on the mountain sides. If you are thinking of upgrading to a Gold Star class, I think this is the one to invest in, though it's not completely necessary, as the D car has an almost complete bubble top accessible to everyone, which was perfect for me.

Just book it. Super clean, super nice, amazing views. We were on a chartered ride in the fancy upstairs window cars and it was awesome, relaxing, great scenery. Highly recommend.

Great views!!!
Lots of snowy peaks, rushing waters, and... BALD EAGLES!
You get dropped off at the north end of town. There are some restaurants and gift shops there- the ranger station is a MUST. More of Seward is by taxi- recommended if you have time.

My family of four (two adults, two teens) rode the Glacier Discovery Train from Portage to Grandview and back. This was just under 4 hours and a perfect amount of time for us to relax & see some beautiful nature and glaciers. We wanted to see the glaciers between Spencer and Grandview but did not want to spend 6-8+ hours on the train. Parking and check in at Portage station were easy. After Spencer, most passengers disembarked so we were able to spread out. The train was comfortable, bathrooms were cleans, snacks were of great variety for a train, and crew was friendly. We had a fantastic afternoon!

My family of 10, to include 3 children under 10 and my 94-year-old mother, had tickets for the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage but when we got to the station to board the train, we were told that the train was cancelled due to wildfires. I realize that's not their fault but the way they handled our trip is. If they had given us more of a notice, we could have rented vehicles to drive to Anchorage. We were also told that taking the motorcoach would get us there 4 or 5 hours earlier than the train. So, since we didn't have time to find a rental, we got on the bus. The bus was a disaster. It made multiple stops to pick up other passengers. At one stop, we were told we would be there for an hour and so we should walk down this street to a town where there were some restaurants for dinner. We had to walk 3/4 of a mile on a street with no sidewalk and fast-moving vehicles with 3 kids while pushing elderly in a wheelchair. The food was expensive. Then do the same thing going back to the bus. We never saw anything scenic which is the reason we bought tickets for the train. Also, we did not arrive to our destination when we were told we would. We got there an hour earlier than the train would have. When I wrote the company about this, there resolution was to refund me 10% of ticket price and a coupon for a future ride for 8 people. There were 10 in my group. It's a shame that this company cares more about the $$$$ than their customer base.

THIS IS A MUST TO SEE ALASKA! Forget driving and take the Alaska Railroad so that EVERYONE can enjoy the scenic views!. GOLDSTAR is definitely worth the extras, too. From Anchorage, the train parallels the road along the Turnagain Arm with wonderful views. Once in the Girdwood area, the train goes where roads cannot go. You experience the S-curve train tracks, glacier views, views of the Denali Fault line, wildlife and Eagle sitings are all fabulous. GOLDSTAR provides you with so much: AMAZING views, a large open view car, comfortable seating, great commentary by knowledgeable staff for the entire trip, delicious meals plated elegantly, great service from friendly staff, non-alcoholic drinks and two alcoholic drinks are all part of the package. Side and above windows are extremely clean enhancing your viewing experience.

We travelled from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The scenery was exceptional but the train experience was disappointing to say the least. The food was mediocre but the service great. The 'tour guides' (compared to all of the other event guides we experienced in Alaska) seemed more interested in socializing than providing us with information. We purchased the $5 railroad history/travel guide at the station in Fairbanks which was an excellent resource for the trip. We cancelled the second leg of our trip from Anchorage to Seward return and rented a car! Much more value for money and the scenery was basically the same.

Beautiful views! We were in adventure class and had huge picture window and lots of leg room. We were told only a small backpack or purse online, but there is an overhead rack which could hold both or room even by feet (Husband is 6’3” and he had room by feet)! We checked our bag and it was brought to our hotel.

At least a restroom in each car.

Very enjoyable experience. Coffee or mimosas were available (It left at 6:45 am).

Very good. No phone charging outlets on the train. It was delayed 1.5 hours leaving Anchorage. Loved the car with the viewing area.

We took the Anchorage to Fairbanks tour with stops in Talkeetna & Denali, and we added extra nights in Anchorage & Fairbanks. We are both in our 60s and we traveled with our 4 grown children. Everyone had a great time - the excursions which were included with the tour were all enjoyable, and the meals onboard the train were tasty. It was a very comfortable way to travel and to experience the Alaskan landscape.

We had a rainy day in Talkeetna, so we thought, "Let's take the train ride to Hurricane." What a good idea it was. This train brings many passengers to their remote homes or campsites. For many folks, the only way in and out of their home is by train because they do not live close to a road. The seats were comfortable, and Mary, the hostess and guide, made the trip fun and informative. Along the way, we met Shannon Cartwright, an illustrator of children's books and artist. She and her husband have lived in the "bush" for the last forty-six years. We gladly purchased some of her books and paintings. The train does not run on a tight schedule and must yield to trains that do, so the trip could last six hours or even seven hours. It is one of the last flag-stop trains, which means that anyone along the way can flag the train to stop and pick them up.

From ticketing and baggage check in to disembarking in Seward the train experience was great. We were in domed car with spotless windows as well as an open air viewing platform which made photographing easy.
A hearty breakfast was served on the lower level but still with excellent views.
We saw some wildlife and were very relaxed on the train ride. There was good commentary along the way with people pointing out when wildlife was spotted.
I highly recommend the Gold Star service.

Rode in the lowest fare class, but the train was virtually empty, so very comfortable ride. We were able to walk around and get some great views of the landscape. The scenery is beautiful, and there are a couple glacier views on the ride.

I find it odd that checked bags are sent by truck and not on the train. Seems like a waste of resources. The narration throughout the ride was not well prepared. I understand that the railroad does a type of internship with local high schoolers, and they were our narrators for the trip. I’m sure when they get a few more trips under their belt the product will be more polished and informative.

Regardless of who is narrating, I would suggest an option without any announcements throughout the journey. It would be nice to have a quiet car to rest, or just enjoy the ride.

Wonderful ride to Fairbanks! It was a snowy day so we didn’t get to see faraway views but the moose and towns along the way was awesome.

We never got off at the stops- not sure why people got off. Something I thought for sure I would do!

Seat assignment- this could be better as we had a short window with a fogged up one in front of us so our seat view was terrible. We moved to the cafe seats but couldn’t stay there all day. Lots of standing so we could see our other windows. It would be nice to let people move seats on an empty train.

Food was good and just enough choices.

Baggage pickup- wish there was a better and faster way to handle.

Lots of storage inside the rail cars for a day bag with snacks and warm clothes. Our car was freezing!

We rode the Alaskan Railroad to/from Denali from Anchorage, spending 2 nights in Denali. We opted for the 1st class seats that included 2 meals each way. The seats are roomy and comfortable, and viewing was amazing! We saw beautiful valleys, mountains, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.

The food wasn't bad for Railroad kitchens and the service was great! They provide hosts that call out the scenery and provide interesting buts of information along the way.

Our tickets also included 2 "adult" beverages, and the bartenders were very friendly and accommodating. It was a great way to more of interior Alaska.

This is a fantastic way to see the state and all it has to offer, allowing you into the back country where there are no roads but lots of beauty. If you can afford it, upgrade to the Denali Star with its glass dome roof, excellent service, dining car built in with two meals and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, plus a full time bartender in your car, no better way to travel in style and enjoy the beauty of Alaska

We made three trips on the Alaska Railroad, from Seward to Anchorage, Anchorage to Denali and Denali to Anchorage.
Our expectations for the Alaska Railroad were set by our experience on the rocky mountaineer railroad over the Canadian Rockies, but the Alaska rail road experience was decidedly second-best.
Service, particularly food, was a disappointment. Views, for many parts of the line are not particularly interesting, all the more so if clouds are embracing distant mountains, which happens a great deal in Alaska. We were lucky to get some spectacular views of Mount Denali from the train on our journey from Denali to Anchorage. There was no sign of it on our trip up from Anchorage to Denali, which is a far more frequent occurrence.
Additionally, passenger space seemed more constricted than what we experienced in the Canadian Rockies.
In fairness , I should note that the Alaskan railroad is cheaper than the Rocky Mountaineer.
We were also surprised that the Alaskan Railroad did not enforce any sort of mask wearing requirements, even for an inconsiderate woman who coughed incessantly during our trip. Even though my wife and I spent a lot of time on the outside platform to get away from the inconsiderate woman, we both caught whatever she had and came back from Alaska feeling pretty awful.
If we travel to Alaska again, we will find other modes of transport to get us around.

Comparing this to Wilderness Express Dome train

Pros

Good views
Upper outside observation platform
Food included
Two drinks include per person
Comfortable

Cons

No power outlet at seat
Food quality nowhere near as good as competition
No in cabin drink service
Trip narration better on competition
Crowded

The Alaska railroad train is the Best way to see the majestic mountains of Alaska. It’s worry free, relaxing and do enjoyable. Traveled from Anchorage to Seward. Looking forward to travel to Denali on this train system.

In general, I liked the train ride. We sat in the dome car and our dinner was included. The meal was just ok. One disappointment was that some of the items on the menu were not offered on this route but the menu still showed them. They feed half the dome car passengers at once so depending on where you sit you will be fed first or much later. The train personnel did provide some commentary as we passed interesting spots on the trip. The train even stopped at a couple of locations to explain the location in more detail. Overall the trip is about double the time versus taking the bus to Anchorage. For us, it was something different to try but if we had to transfer again we would just take the bus. If I did take the train again I would choose to not pay the extra cost of the dome car since it is about double the cost.

This was the worst experience I have ever had. We booked our vacation through the railroad and we were so excited. We were trained to Talkeetna, then just abandoned. There was a fire in Denali and the park and hotels were closed. Of course there was nothing the railroad could do about the fire, but they literally abandoned us and a train full of people. Because there were so many people, the hotels in Talkeetna quickly sold out. There was one 25 person bus the railroad arranged to take people back to Anchorage but since there were hundreds of people trying to get back, it was impossible. The railroad site was (and still is) down. We called and spent hours on the phone with the railroad representative telling us there was nothing they could do. We called four different times. We went to the train depot in Talkeetna and again we're told there was nothing they could do.
They should have never taken us out of Anchorage. Knowing there was a fire they cancelled the train to Denali but still busses hundreds of people in with no hotel for them to go to. They should have left the train in Talkeetna and offered to take people back to Anchorage. They should have sent another train to pick us all up. They should have arranged busses to pick us up and take us to Anchorage. They should have stayed in contact with us offering to help find lodging and transportation. This was an absolute nightmare.
Also because the railroad booked our trip, we were unable to get refunds for the excursions and hotels that were closed. As of this review, the railroad has refused any refund of our 10 thousand dollar vacation booking. I would absolutely never use Alaska railroad for anything... Ever....ever .... Ever again.

This train ride was a highlight of our Alaskan adventure! It’s a very relaxed environment with plenty of space to stretch out and large windows to take in spectacular views. The weather was cloudy/rainy during our ride so I can only imagine how much better the views would be on a clear day. Mary was our on-board specialist and provided nice commentary as we travelled to Hurricane Turn and back. She was happy to answer any questions about life in rural Alaska so we learned quite a bit along the way. Highly recommend fitting this activity into your itinerary!

After riding the wilderness express from anchorage to Denali, our hopes were high. But we were quickly disappointed rising this railroad car from Denali to Fairbanks. There was trash all over our seats upon getting on, the staff barely spoke English, the bartender was horrible, the drinks were terrible, the food options were super limited and it was just a dirtier experience. I would not do this again. I would pay the extra for wilderness express. Fortunately, it was a warm day so we could stand outside for most of the ride.

We really enjoyed the train ride to Denali on the Alaska Railroad! The whole experience was top notch. We booked our trip by phone because we wanted the train trip and a two night stay in Denali. The agent was so helpful and patient. We also booked the Wilderness Tundra Tour along with our package. They provided us with a very detailed itinerary with lots of good information. There's a good gift shop at the railroad station! Be sure to get the ride guide book. We booked the "Gold Star" service and loved the domed car and outside viewing platform. The seats were very comfortable and spacious. It was fun to eat in the dining car and the food was good. An eight hour train trip sounds like a long time, but it flew by! I will definitely
book another trip on the Alaska Railroad!

The AC was broken and the trip was miserable. Our car was 80-90 degrees. The employee announced the AC was working and it would be cooling down and then left. Absolutely miserable. When I complained and told they could at least offer us some water, they said “you could have gone to another car.” “I said that at the beginning.” No one on board cares about customer services. The “conductor” just walked up and said what’s the problem and then walked off. They have a monopoly and they know it. I was looking forward to this for a
Long time.

What a fun and informative day on the Hurricane turn around train from Talkeetna! Mary was awesome and provided great commentary! The engineers were amazing and so friendly! They stop the train and back up for any wildlife. 7 bears total( 6 black and 1 brown), 2 moose, 1 wolf! You get to get off the train in remote outposts! Such a great day!

This was a fabulous tour. The train ride was wonderful and we saw so much wildlife. The Kenai mountains were exquisite along with the rivers and waterfalls. Staff was great and funny. They did a narration the whole way and it was very informative. When I arrived in Seward, I took the Orca Quest tour which was also wonderful. Then back to Anchorage. I highly recommend!!!

Initially, we were concerned about my husband having issues getting on the train he has some mobility issues. We were told several times that it is a short walk to the train. If you don't have mobility issues that may be the case. Then when we did get to the train we had another "short" walk to our train car. When we got to the car, there were no more worries about getting on the train. Up three steps and then a lift to bring him to level 2. There was room for our backpacks, they did take our other carry ons and stored them somewhere. The seating in the upper level was nice, train was clean and well organized. Conductor, bartender and train host/tour guide where all wonderful knowledgeable and friendly. The views were heavenly everyone always looking for wildlife. The first floor food car was also nice. Space was cramped. Food was good, not a huge menu but got the job done. We would most definitely do this again.

Our ship anchored at Seward and to be honest we used this train to travel to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
It was quite quiet because next to the place where the ship anchored the train was already waiting.
We don’t need to worry about the luggage as it was transported to the airport by car to facilitate faster boarding and more convenience inside the train.
The train had glass windows up to the ceiling.
Boarding service is paid separately.
On the trail live black bears, mountain goats, alps and bald eagles.
The car driver careful about all this stopped the train many times so we could see, photograph and film.
We were lucky and we were able to see a family of bears (mother and her puppet), alks and many mountain goats.
It is an exciting experience to see these animals in the wild.

The Wilderness Express was an awesome experience. The design and operation of the dome cars provided for outstanding viewing of the landscape while traveling. The dining room food was quite tasty and the staff was friendly and very organized. I highly recommend Wilderness Express as it is a higher level of comfort and service than alternative train services available.

We traveled Anchorage to Denali and back after two days in Denali. Anchorage to Seward, overnight in Girdwood, back to Anchorage. This 8 day excursion was too much time on the train and you’re compelled to follow their itinerary despite weather conditions. We spent a wet and cold day seeing Spencer glacier and float trip. We saw very few wildlife in their natural habitat. This itinerary would’ve been extremely better by private car with more time to explore the area.

Although the train was clean and the staff cheerful, the food was school cafeteria grade. Most disappointing - the tour guide was poor. She said very little, was inaccurate in her vocabulary, explaining how howitzers "shot down avalanches," that the glaciers were retreating because "ice just melts" and didn't say anything more about the geology, geography, native history, gold rushes or current economy.
We loved our experience on the Rocky Mountain Express and were expecting something similar, but we would have seen as much, learned more and saved several hundred dollars by packing a lunch, taking the bus and reading a guide book.

It was fun riding from Anchorage to Denali on the Gold Star Express. Great views of the rivers and mountains, but sadly, almost no wildlife. A few times someone would say ‘there’s a moose’, but by the time you looked there was nothing to be seen. The train is clean and comfortable; even the windows in the dome car were clean. Interestingly, we were told that the AR is the only ‘flag stop’ train in the country which will stop to pick up locals as for some there is no other way in or out of where they live. For the high end ticket, they serve two meals, but apparently don’t train their staff well. The menu says a salad could be ordered with an entrée, but some waiters said no, that wasn’t possible. Also, some waiters said a drink was complimentary with the meal; others said no, you had to pay. I don’t blame the waiters; I do blame management which obviously had not bothered to do much training. Also, compared to other trains, especially those in Europe, this one wasted a lot of time waiting on a siding for another train to pass and stopping to change crews mid journey. For the 8 hours spent on the train the average speed was 29mph to go 230 miles. Lastly, the commentary by the young guides was often repetitive, explaining several times why the river water was not clear. Again, a little training would go a long way. With hindsight, I’d take the train one-way and take a bus back.

The train ride was scenic, commentators were great went from Anchorage to Telkeetna great town to stay in.would like to give a shot out to Mario who is staff at the depot in Anchorage he went to the Harley store and got shirts, poker chips etc for me how nice it was to get back and was given those Harley items wow just an awesome man

Great way to see the beautiful landscape of AK. Was able to relax while traveling from Fairbanks to Denali. We were independent travelers (not cruisers) and thought this was really experiencing more than the coast of AK

Overall a very fun trip, perfect for seasoned travelers, never travelers, folks with small mobility issues, almost everyone. It's not really suitable for very young children who are required to sit for 12 hours without much to do (yes, a couple brought a 2 year old and a 4 year old, the kids and their parents were miserable the entire trip). There is not wifi on the train and cell service is very spotty (these are good things, you're really on the train to enjoy the view and not chat on the phone or watch videos on your device). I was so happy there was not internet or cell service. Best advice is to be prepared for the trip. Have some clothing layers as it can vary during the trip from warm to cold and you can get off a few times for a few minutes (highly encouraged, great to stretch a bit). And bring enough snacks in the event there is no food available. There is plenty, but there are lots of reasons they might run out of something or everyone wants the same thing to eat, be prepared !! Also, you cannot control where you sit so just deal with it. We actually had good seats but there's like two windows that are emergency exit windows and those do fog up. The folks sitting by those windows just wiped them down every now and then. You could be seated by some noisy talkers but nothing you can do. The lights were very bright in the car and in the early morning we couldn't see out the window so we, and some other people, asked the train person to turn them off and he did. What a much better experience!! The food was good, and worth it to sit in the dining car with other travelers, it really added to the whole experience. We met some very nice, interesting people who we sat with. As others have noted, there is bag check which we did but you'll wait 20 min or so at the end of the trip to get your bags, but really, what's an extra 20 min when you've been sitting 12 hours. Enjoy!!

You could take the bus, but this is way cooler. Easy access to the Alaska depot downtown Anchorage, and let someone else do the driving.

Comfortable forward facing seats, great windows and outside deck so you can take in all the sights and sounds of Alaska. Saw bear, moose, and many eagles. Our fare included a delicious breakfast and two drinks each.

Highly recommended!

The seats reclined and were fantastic with plenty of leg room. Wish airlines were as accommodating. Ride was smooth and bathrooms were almost spacious. This was a luxurious trip, on time and efficient.

This year marks exactly 100 years since the Alaska Railroad opened its entire line! I made the reservation without knowing anything about it, but the badge that was distributed only to those who reserved Gold Star Class had the number 100 on it (I don't know if it's only for this year).
Gold Star is an observation car, with three meals in the dining car and up to two free drinks. There is a private bar at the rear of the observation car, and behind that is an outdoor deck-like area reserved for Gold Class passengers, which you can enter and exit freely. You can take in as many negative ions as you like.
It's 12 hours of enjoying the magnificent scenery of Alaska while slowly drinking alcohol from the morning. I thought 12 hours was too long, but there were moose, I was amazed at the size of Mt. Denali, people in the towns we passed, people on trains going in the opposite direction we passed, salmon fishermen waving at us, and the train stopped and slowed down at the scenic spots, so I think it's worth more than the price.
For meals, you can choose from about three menus for each meal. I had a light meal of eggs and potatoes in the morning, Bolognese for lunch, and beef steak for dinner, and each meal was made with moose or reindeer. The food was pretty good. After each meal, everyone left a $5 tip on the table.
The deli car selling snacks had a high ceiling and was very open.
I definitely recommend this if you come to Alaska.

Better than expected! Saw a moose & a family of 3 bears. The train even backed up to give passengers a better view. Stopped to visit a well known artist, also got off at a very picturesque spot & another spot to get up close with a group of old train cars. The crew all had great stories as did the several flagstop passengers on the train. We brought our own charcuterie & wine for our party. Coffee, tea, water and hot chocolate was available.

Would recommend this trip to anyone. Pay extra to get the dining and upstairs views. It was a wonderful trip! Added the fjord cruise and our family created memories we will never forget!

Great trip but could not hear the tour guide.
Also lacking phone chargers and WiFi.
The staff was wonderful. The female bartender from Anchorage and Johansen I might have spelt it wrong were excellent.

Beautiful breathtaking views of Denali, saw bears, bald eagle, and salmon. Staff was really good with hubby with his wheelchair assistance! Thank you very much!!! Highly recommend.

Lovely train ride with exceptional staff!
Even though we had rain off and on we still saw lots of beaver dams, swans, a few moose, salmon running and DENALI!
But as exceptional as the views were the staff was amazing.

Lots of room making it a comfortable and enjoyable trip. Food was above average. Nice views from the gold star cars.

Not a cruise but a t4ue trip through the heart of Alaska. The train from Anchorage toFairbanks was exceptionally interesting, fun, and enjoyable. the Tour of Danali was fact filled and well done. We picked up a rental car in Fairbanks and picked our way back to Anchorage. Took our time, no crowds, saw what we wanted to see on our terms. Great trip.

Just returned from Canada/Alaska trip. Took the Denali star Goldstar service Anchorage to Fairbanks in June. The train was superb. Great viewing upstairs seats , open air viewing for photos.
Sadly the trip was spoilt by very poor food all day. This trip is expensive I expected more. I don't expect cold food on cold plates. Even worse was I was not listened to by Zak the restaurant manager. Apparently as I was the only one to complain I MUST be wrong. Very strange. Andrew the train manager was the same. They didn't want to hear my side one bit.
As a professional chef years ago. I know what I'm talking about. Sad really supposed to be very special. Well the journey was,food and staff wasn't. Only the barman upstairs sympathised with me.

A very comfortable and pleasant experience. The views up to Denali are spectacular - worth the ride to even spend one night in Denali.

Great trip and excellent food. Road on the Gold star. On the trip, narrators pointed at different wildlife, mountains, fun facts. They answered questions and were all very helpful. Beautiful scenery.

This is a great way to get to see Seward. The scenery is so beautiful and ever changing. The young people that gave the narrative along the way were wonderful. While in Seward we did the U Turn Heads dog Sled tour which was awesome. We ate lunch at Rays which is right on the water. It is a long full day but so worth it!!!!

The scenery in the middle part of the trip was spectacular. We saw moose and bears and trumpeter swans. We were in gold star and that was worth it. The food was ok. I wish the windows had been washed. When the sun shone on them it was obvious. If the sun wasn’t shining on them, we had no trouble seeing.

This is about the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic Anchorage-Seward Round Trip.
I selected the Goldstar upgrade. The train is clean, comfortable and very well run. The trip is early morning to Seward, then return in the evening, offering a several hour stay in Seward for a tour, etc.
The scenery is magnificent, and an on board tour guide narrates it beautifully. Food and beverages, including alcohol, are provided with Goldstar, and the special observation car is excellent. There is a back deck for even better picture taking. The staff service is top grade, and, an important fact to me, they are all happy with their jobs, and loyal to the railroad. The following day I went back to take a better picture of the train before it departed and the engineer waved and smiled.
This is an expensive trip, but I considered it well worth it and a highlight of my Alaska visit.

My family of 5 adults took two separate trips on Alaska Rail (Anchorage to Denali and then Denali to Fairbanks several days later). This was one of my favorite activities we did. The scenery was spectacular, the train was comfortable, food was delicious. Staff were friendly (and funny), you can tell they love their jobs.

An incredibly leisurely trip to Talkeetna and then on to Denali the next day in the gold star class. Great food along the way with spectacular scenery and an amazing stop in Talkeetna at the Alaska Talkeetna Lodge, which had a spectacular view of Denali. Both days were clear and we saw moose along the way, including one quite close Near the Talkeetna railroad stop.

Our group of 10 pre booked our seats well in advance. Didn’t want to miss out. Our day endured a Train, bus, boat for a day trip. We boarded the train at 9-15am for a nice ride to stop along the way for a coffee or snack. Only 1 Wild life spotted, an Eagle positioned in a regular tree as noted. Re boarded the train for Spencer Iceberg & Placer River Boat. Magnificent views and photos taken. We made fun with our chatter and some slept. We soon arrived at Spencer Iceberg & Placer River Boat for a ride on the river bank. Damn it was cold and raining this day. I literally froze. Our Boat guide paddled and steering our boat along the river with some medium rapids endured. We were on the last week before the tours stopped for the season. The tour guides used NEW ways as a test for the New season opening later this year. Our tour guide provided snacks and hot drinks options as we carefully poured and passed along the items. No rocking or standing please in the boat. We depart our boat at the riverbank to return to original train at 4.55pm Placer River. A 45 min train ride for a bus transfer to arrive back at the Train station of Anchorage Train Station to then walk back to the hotel. It is Recommended Warm clothes, a beanie, gloves and water resistance jackets, shoes and thick warm socks. A fantastic way to get amongst the adventures and attractions.

Make sure this is on your to-do list. Great staff, beautiful views, stunning. Took the Coastal Classic train from Anchorage to Seward.

Beautiful scenery. We saw moose with calves and many, many bald eagles. We traveled Adventure Class. Several cars share the domed car seating, but we had no problems finding a seat. We enjoyed the breakfast in the dining car which was reasonably priced. Only issues we had were beyond the railroad's control. Very badly behaved children running up and down the aisles screaming.

Amazing Alaskan Railway
We just want to express our gratitude for how amazing the Alaskan railroad is organized and run on a timely fashion, with respectful and professional staff, super helpful in terms of helping us book through their telephone line. The trains were extremely clean and ran on a timely fashion. The food on board was delicious and amazing. The whole experience with the gold star was beyond our expectations . Anything you’d like to see for yourself, you can watch on YouTube by various professional Youtubers, who are simply showing the amazing experience… you will get by writing and booking with the Alaskan Railroads. Worth every penny we spent on board this trains. The amount of wildlife and scenery you will see from on board. the train is quite astonishing too. We took so many great pictures while on board looking beyond at the Waters edge and the mountain views . We have booked further trips to travel with them from Anchorage all the way up to Fairbanks and back. We will do this trip Again. It is amazing how it was not as costly as we thought it would be. Everyone should look into riding the Alaskan Railroad at least once and supporting them.

The trip of a lifetime. We boarded the Winter Train in Fairbanks and rode to the end of the line in Anchorage. The views were stunning, the staff (Daniel & Sara) were so knowledgeable and fun to talk to and the food in the dining car was surprisingly delicious and reasonably priced. This is a unique opportunity to see Alaska in a way that few are able to see. I would definitely recommend this trip to everyone.

Waste of time and money. Too long and no site of any kind of wild life…Train often stops for other trains to pass by…the route they take us is just some forest preserve.

Disappointing experience. View from the train was largely obscured by trees on both side of the track. The commentary on the train from Anchorage to Talkeetna was very poor - better on the return journey from Talkeetna to Anchorage.
Breakfast from Anchorage to Talkeetna was very poor - cold by the time we were served and choice was poor. No healthy options offered which was very disappointing. Food was so poor we didn't risk the dinner on the return leg.
Goldstar service was definitely not worth the extra money - poor value- given the premium price paid

What a wonderful experience. Mary took great care to talk to us about the area and its history. Beautiful scenery and fun ride! It was so interesting watching the locals ride out into the backwoods. Met some very interesting people.

2nd time doing this railroad trip between Anchorage and Denali, once coordinated by Princess and the other by Royal Caribbean. Both times, I found this a great way to experience the trip to Denali.
There is a tour guide on board, with excellent views of the scenery with dome windows.
They have excellent food and drinks available. The first time around, I had caribou chili, which was amazing and did not have a gamy flavor, the second time around, they offered prime rib, halibut or a variety of other choices (caribou chili was not available). I found the dinner prices to be very reasonable, especially for Alaska.
I chose the halibut this more recent time and it was quality in flavor and presentation.

Very disappointed in what was sold to us as being Gold Star service. We booked thru Princess Lodges and despite many attempts at resolution they must not have customer service. We arrived at the Denali train station at 3:15 pm, for our 4:00 pm departure to find that there were no boarding passes for us. Fortunately we had our paperwork with us to prove that we had a paid reservation with assigned seats in Rail Car 654 "Goldstar" with assigned seats 03c and 03d. After approximately 90 minutes and several trips back and forth to the rail office we were finally able to obtain a boarding pass with no assigned seat. It turned out to be fortunate that the 4 pm train did not arrive on time or it would have left without us since it took so long to receive boarding passes. There were a group of four others that experienced these same issues.
When the train arrived, approximately 90 minutes late, the workers on the train informed us that our assigned seats had been given to someone else. They were able to find seating for us in the last seats of the "B" car. They also let us know that they were short staffed with one bartender for two cars and not enough dining staff.
The train left and when the bartender came around to take drink orders, I ordered a Margarita. It turned out that there was only enough tequila for one drink and another guest changed their order so that I could have it. A while after that I was brought a plastic cup of tequila only. When I asked what that was, I was told there was no margarita mix and this was all they had. I declined and had no drinks of the two that were supposed to be included in Goldstar service. My friend did have one Bloody Mary.
Only a very short portion of the beginning of the trip was narrated until the guide and bartender left to help in the dining car. I would like to comment that all of the staff on the train did work very hard to overcome the extensive difficulties. They also made extensive apologies for the lack of service.
We sat, hungering for dinner, while many other guests passed us to descend to the dining car. Finally, shortly after 8 pm, we left to go downstairs. We already knew that they were out of many of the dining choices including all desert. We both ordered cod and were told that we could not have a salad with it. The meal was finally served to us at 8:38 pm. I have a photo of the portion size which seemed to be decreased based on running out of cod and that we were the last people on the train to be served dinner!

This is a wonderful experience! It is almost a 12 hour trip, but the scenery is well worth the long ride! Comfortable assigned seats are nice….one down side is they do not have a plug at each seat! There is a charging set up at the back of each car if you need a quick charge! There is food for purchase at concession/bar area. You are also able to have seated service, order off the menu, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Food was tasty!
There is an on board guide that points out various sites, historical tidbits, and animal sightings! Before boarding, be sure to purchase the trip guide….lots of great info!
This was our 3rd trip on an Alaska Railroad…..highly recommend!

High school train guides - excellent program. EXCEPT - did history start with the gold rush? Who was here before the gold rush? Surely Seward had an indigenous name and people that lived there. Very good food. When booking for Gold Star, put in request for where to sit (the absolute best seats in the house are train car A first couple rows.
Seating for meals - starts at the front of the car and moves back. First seating is maybe two dozen people. Grateful for sharp eyes of guide and staff to point out things.

This was an awesome way to travel. We sat in the dome car, and the vistas were astounding. Breakfast was decadent and delicious. The staff was gracious and very knowledgeable. This is a fantastic way to journey through the amazing Alaskan vistas. Highly recommend the dome cars!

Really fun trip! Scenery was fabulous! Saw glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, rivers. Beautiful. The dining car was fun and the double story car with the dome on top was really awesome.
Great way to travel between cities.

I like trains. I like scenery. This trip had both. We took the GoldStar Dome, so we had the dome view the whole time. The train left on time, and it is a relatively long trip, about 7 hours, but that was a plus to me.

There was a booklet offered for about 5 bucks that I found worth it, full of trivia.

The (included) lunch was served in shifts, and we happened to be in the first shift (maybe the first nine rows), if that is important to you. My wife didn't care for the food on the trip up, but did enjoy it on the way back. There was a ginger beer by indigenous people that I really liked. I thought it was fine, and pretty elegant.

As another reviewer said, the narrator/conductors were young and part of a school program, which I found pleasant. They are learning and gaining experience. Don't hate.

We also had a rowdy group near us that detracted from the experience. The included drinks did not improve things. I suspect that aspect of the hospitality experience should have fallen on the adult conductors. Still, not a huge problem, they fell asleep after a while.

Memorable experience, especially if you like trains.

This is a unique experience, but it's VERY VERY long! It's the last flagstop train in the US and you meet some interesting people (campers, folks heading to their remote cabins). The views are nice, but nothing special. They do let you get on/off a few times and you can get awesome pics when they stop above the Gorge. They sell basic snacks on board. Be prepared, it is 7+ hours. Too long!!

What a spectacular experience. We greatly appreciate the crew, guide, and conductor. The train was expertly run.
And nothing beats the views which are unmatched. Taking the roadways do not allow you to appreciate these wonders of nature. If you’re wondering what to do while your visiting Alaska, do this!!

Wonderful Views and Service!! We would highly recommend this train trip! Great way to see Alaska backcountry!

Alaska Railroad Goldstar purchase. The cars are supervised by young people (not an advantage) who let a small loud group of passengers interrupt the trip for everyone in our car. We were unable to hear safety announcements and other commentary on the trip. It was as if they thought they were in a loud bar. But they were talking across the aisle and we were 4 rows away. The young trainees??? did nothing to quiet them down. Maybe there should be a quiet car and a bar car. On our way back from Denali, we took Wilderness Express. We had a professional narrator in our car who kept things under control. Everything else was the same high quality, food was Ala carte, but it was just as good, and maybe cheaper. Don't use ARR Goldstar, it's not worth it!

Spectacular trip, excellent view and good food in the train food course. During the trip, it was possible to see belugas, bears, mountain gouts, and other animals. Additionally, it was possible to see spectacular glaciers, rivers and other natural attractions.

Boarded train after orca tour. Had been freezing, pouring rain all day. Took a while to get the train heated up! Food was delicious, have the pot roast and karamasu! Drinks from bar free. Everyone so friendly. Watch for dead tree's with 50 plus Easgles just hanging out on the left. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, we counted at least 30 waterfalls, saw the mountain goats, the water coming into mountains, snow covered, pictures do not due the scenery justice

We took the train from Anchorage to Seward and had a relaxing time and enjoyed the nice scenery. We had breakfast there as well. The train has an elevated dome where people can take turns admiring the scenery or take photos/videos. It was a neat experience and I definitely recommend it.

Magical views of mountains and glaciers. Sighted bears, moose and bald eagles. Very good guidance by staff on the train. Ate divine fish dishes at a restaurant in Seward

The views were amazing. The food in the Restaurant car is very good. I did not expect that. There is a bistro car as well with food for the microwave oven , snacks and drinks. The seating is comfortable . Many moose along the way, in fact had a moose leading the train for about a mile on the tracks. Stopped at some places to take pictures. Had a lady and her dog get on , she is a childrens book writer that lives off the grid for about forty years . Can buy her books . The scenery changes as you head north to Fairbanks. I would do this ride again!!!

Interesting tour , very well organised . Great scenery and informative staff , train has glass roof to sights . Seats comfortable ! Toilets for me a no go

Was not first come first served seating, even though I purchased my ticket months ahead I did not get a window seat. BAD, BAD, BAD

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The scenery was absolutely awesome. Lots of commentary. Just loved not having to worry about our luggage when we reached Seward. It was delivered to our accommodation. Great service.
Would recommend this trip to anyone. All went smoothly.

The scenery is so beautiful. We originally couldn't buy tickets on the official website. Fortunately, we booked tickets on the TripAdvisor website, which allowed us to experience this once-in-a-lifetime Aurora train journey. Although the journey took 11.5 hours, the scenery along the way was amazing. People marveled that I didn’t feel tired. I took a lot of photos without taking my eyes off it. It’s impossible to experience it without being there. This is a great mountain scenery that can only be seen by taking the Aurora Train. I want to experience it again if I have the opportunity in the future...

The views were amazing, the conductor and his team were making sure we all felt special, and the added bonus of hearing about interesting facts along the way was delightful. You really do need to get there at 5:45am to beat the long line but everyone got onboard and we left almost on time. Parking is across the street costing $23 for the 17 hour day. We went on a 6 hr Fjord boat trip from Seward and the timing of it all was stress free making it a wonderful day!

Mary the guide was very knowledgeable and made the trip interesting. Unfortunately we didn’t see any wildlife but that is unpredictable and the staff certainly tried their best. The trip was much longer then anticipated, 6.5 hours which was just a bit too long. There are some basic snacks for purchase on board but packing food and drink is a must! I wished I had packed a full meal vs snacks. We had books as well which was helpful. There is no cell service much of the way which drains battery so make sure you are fully charged before leaving .

We were not able to take the train all the way to Denali as we would have needed to overnight there. So we went one-way to Talkeetna (Goldstar Dome), spent about 5 hours in the town, then took another one-way (Wilderness Express) back to Anchorage. Our day was rainy but the views were still spectacular and we have an amazing trip!

The train ride both ways and the service was excellent! Everyone was very friendly, welcoming, and attentive. The train station in Anchorage was organized (busy!) and instructions were clear and the signage was easy to follow. The train station in Talkeetna was small, but the 1 gentleman working there was really nice and helpful, as our return train was a bit delayed and we were not sure where we could wait. He directed us to a great little bar up the street.

I highly recommend visiting Talkeetna. The shops, breweries, walking to the river, and all of the people in the town were amazing! We visited a few food trucks where we had salmon cakes (DELICIOUS!) and seasoned chickened skewers. We shopped, ate and drank, and really enjoyed it! There is about a 10 minute walk from the train station to the town (we walked in the rain, but it wasn’t too bad). I would absolutely return.

I also highly recommend the Alaska Railroad. Both levels of service were amazing and worth it. I hope to return and do it again some day -maybe down to Seward next time.

We went gold service both ways (Anchorage to Seward and return).Had the upstairs section with great views and and open section out the back. Food and drinks were part of the package. Food could be eaten in the dining carriage, or if you can’t use the stairs in your seat. Disabled access was via a lift, which was great because spiral staircase was difficult.
The train would slow down for wildlife sightings, and the tour guides made sure that all the important landmarks were advised, and answered all questions posed to them. Definitely well worth the trip.

Great experience, Staff was friendly and the narration was interesting and funny! We got beautiful pictures from the landscapes and glaciers.

Great experience you see so much that you can not see by car . Do the upgrade to gold star excellent service and meals. It’s a long ride but it goes by fast .

It was a great experience. Mary our train conductor told us everything we can see in this area. Very friendly and funny.
Wonderful scenery.

This train takes about seven hours and all and you get to see a lot of cool things and not spend days on the train. There is a guide on board that gives you lots of history. Cool thing about this train is they stop and pick up random travelers off the side of the tracks. We had an awesome view of Denali from the train.

Great experience our tour guide Patrick was the best gave us great tips for better picturws and had all the facts about the site

Breathtakingly beautiful and comfort! We(me and my husband) went in March 2024 to Alaska for Aurora Viewing and took the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Views were jaw-dropping and we recommend everyone to take this ride..
we stopped at few key stations like Talkeetna. I think in terms of views I will let the pics do the talking. Infact we spotted moose more than a couple of times !
There are large windows for viewing and they have a separate coach for restaurant with even larger windows for viewing. The food was surprisingly very tasty and good choice! We both are vegetarians and we found some great choices there .. 😊

One of the best travel experiences, we saw bears, moose, bald eagles. We did the gold star package, comes with the upper glass car, drinks, dinner. The views were incredible it will wow you.

The BEST WAY TO SEE beautiful Alaska for the tourist! The staff was helpful and friendly, both, and on the train. The food was good for a train. The drinks were awesome and the narration and watching out those special interest places along work great you are sure to see some wildlife and the poor guys are keeping an eye out the entire time and so are the passengers, so any wildlife they will slow down and point it out.

Due to excessive rain that plagued nearly the entire vacation, we chose to take Athena Talkeetna-Hurricane on Saturday afternoon. The group of other waterlogged passengers was small enough where all could sit in the canopy dome section of the train. While the windows were often speckled with rain, the trip was made exceptionally positive due to the charisma, and personality of the supervisor Mary Sprague. Without her humor, and a play by play detailing places, history, and people along the trains path, it would have been just another train ride. She, nearly single-handedly, made the trip an enjoyable, lighthearted experience beating off the doldrums of a rain soaked day. It’s a great ride when Denali is completely fogged out.

I booked our tickets on 9/7/23 for two GoldStar Service tickets for two passengers (including "gourmet" breakfast) for Friday, May 24, 2024. The train picked us up in Anchorage and dropped us off in Talkeetna. I paid $452 for those two tickets.

Our experience with the luggage check-in as well as the ticket agents when we checked in at the train depot was great. They were helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. So was the gentleman in the gift shop.

Where the experience fell apart was when we got on the train. We were assigned seats 8A and 8B in Car B. Passengers aren’t assigned actual seat assignments until they check in the day of their travel (you just get a confirmation number when you make your reservation), so I assumed that this would be coordinated with when our stop was and factor in timing for us to eat the breakfast that was included with our ticket. However, that certainly was NOT our experience. A man from the dining car came up shortly after our journey started to explain that he would take about 22 to 24 people to start (from the front of the car) down to dine and then come back to get the next group once they were finished. He asked everyone to be prompt in their time in the dining car so the next group would have time to eat as well, but assured us there would be plenty to time for everyone. He took the first group back which we were not a part of (and we know that included people who were on the train for a longer time than we were, continuing on to Denali), so I really don’t understand how this company assigns seats. This first group took well over an hour to eat and ignored his instructions not to linger. Now I realize that part is not the train company's fault, but they also had people who were staying on the train longer who shouldn’t have been fed first. We were getting off on Talkeetna. When we finally got down to the dining car, we had less than 40 minutes to sit, be served and eat our breakfast (basically having to inhale it), which is TOTALLY unacceptable. There was another couple that joined us at our 4-top table who were also getting off at Talkeetna. They were irritated and frustrated with the experience as well. Before getting seated, we had to go down to the dining car and actually remind the dining car attendant (who was originally seating people ) that there was still half the car waiting to eat (and we were starving). He was also doing double duty as the bartender upstairs so you are running a very short staffed operation. He was resetting tables with fresh linens and silverware but then actually sat us at a table with no silverware. The servers were all frazzled (though they didn’t appear capable to help the man with changing the linens on the tables, which would have made things run faster). Everything for our table seemed hurried and unpolished in the dining room. The food was good…but, frankly, we didn’t enjoy it at all. The whole experience had been ruined by this point. My husband had to go back up and get our backpack because while we were still eating, they announced we were shortly going to be pulling into Talkeetna.

As you can see from when I booked these tickets (in September of last year), we have been planning this trip for some time. It was a bucket-list once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were really looking forward to the scenic train trip and the whole train experience. We'd been told by other "make sure to take the train...it's so worth it." Honestly, this was the only part of our trip that didn’t go to plan…and that was totally due to how they ran their dining services on the train. I’m flabbergasted that I spent $452 on these tickets. It wasn’t worth it AT ALL. Had I known the dining experience was going to be such a disappointment and hassle, I would have booked the Adventure tickets and saved half the expense. Actually, we hired a private car to drive us back from Talkeetna to Anchorage a few days later. I should have just booked our back and forth with him and skipped the train.

That afternoon, after our journey, I I filled out their survey (they solicit feedback, mind you), asking for someone to please contact me. No one has. So after allowing 4 full business days (not counting weekends or holidays), I tried to call the number listed on their website as “customer service”. It turned out to just be their general reservation number and I waited on hold for over 25 minutes before I got to an agent. She didn’t seem to know how get me touch with a customer service manager, put me on hold for several more minutes and then when she came back online told me that I could send my issue to an email address…but couldn’t actually talk to anyone. I sent that email basically what I'm posting here....tell them that if I didn't hear back, I'd be posting on TripAdvisor....warning others to not believe the hype and waste their money on this train. So, no shock....no response. In fact, the email as of today bounces back...so they have turned that email off.

There are so many other companies that offer amazing experiences in Alaska. Give them your business....not the Alaska Railroad.

I would highly recommend going on this scenic train ride through Alaska! We had a wonderful time! We saw a black bear, beaver, salmon, and eagles on our ride as well as beautiful glaciers, waterfalls, and mountains. We went from Anchorage to Seward and back. We ended the ride with a beautiful sunset. This tour was definitely worth the money, and I can't wait to go back to Alaska and go on it again. Conductor Warren did a great job. He was full of joy and came out to talk to everyone throughout the journey.

What a great experience. This train ride is beautiful, so I highly recommend splurging for the Gold Star train. The Anchorage to Talkeetna train does not have nearly as many great things to see, so that is one you can book Adventure Class. Highly recommend this trip!

We pre-booked our trips prior to flying from Australia to our start point at the Fairbanks depot. We got the hotel shuttle to the depot prior to leaving and it was closed until a certain time prior to opening up for the train service.
As we were the first to check in, it was pretty quick. You get your seating allocation and your main bags get taken, stored and loaded onto the train. We got our connecting tickets from Talkeetna as well even though we were staying there for a couple of days so our journey was broken. Even when check in was busy, it was very calm and the team were excellent. We boarded the train on time and left on time.
You roll out of Fairbanks and your first stop was at Denali. You could get out here and walk to the front of the train to get pictures with the engines. The conductor gives you all the information for this over the train PA system as well. The views were excellent from the train. They let you know if they see any wildlife, e.g. , moose and what side its coming up on so you can have a look.
We were lucky as we went in the off peak season in March and the train was relatively empty so you could easily move from side to side in empty seats for good views.
We liked the off grid flag stops as we actually stopped and picked up people along the way.
Our conductor from Fairbanks to Talkeetna was excellent. He was very talkative and made our trip enjoyable.
We stopped for a few days in Talkeetna as well.
When we got to the Talkeetna station / stop to catch the the train to Anchorage, the team was good and took your bags and loaded them onto the train. There was only a large hut to sit in and it was more rustic. The train can be a little late due to stops, wildlife and weather but the team keep you updated with a rough idea of arrival time.
There is also a food car on the train and a restaurant car as well. The train steward comes by and takes numbers for this and there can be a couple of services due to lots of people wanting a meal. We had a great meal on the train on the way to Anchorage from Talkeetna.
The only issue I thought could of been done better was getting the bags off the train at the Anchorage depot. It seemed a little unorganized. However, this didn't detract from the overall experience.
We would happily do this experience again.

We did the Goldstar tour for the sit down dining experience and enjoyed it. The food was okay. The staff was friendly. The train was late on arrival on both trips so plan for that. The views were amazing. You can stand during the long 7-8 hour trip which was very good.

Relaxing. Comfortable. Great service. Beautiful scenery and enjoyed the guide and info! Our trip was a day (round trip) from Anchorage to Seward, we arrived on time and grab another tour. Absolutely enjoyed!

Our trip from Anchorage to Denali was divided into two segments with an overnight stop in Talkeetna. We got great views from Talkeetna and enjoyed time in the town. Adventure class was the way to go!

Skipped the train and drove ourselves. Expensive mistake. The roads are great and the trip is much more convenient and faster in a rental car.

This was my favorite part of our entire Alaska vacation. We also did the Denali train trip also. Alaska railroad was wonderful.

They booked our two train trips and lodging for us at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. I even had them booked up for a wilderness tour.

The round trip from Anchorage to Seward worked out to 15.5 hours. Well worth the trip. Great views and Seward is a quaint town to spend time in. You could book several different tours if you wanted to do something in the time you spent there.

I asked several of the railroad employees which was their favorite train route. Everyone of them said the Anchorage to Seward route.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Alaka Railroud Hurrican Turn Round trip from Denali to Talkeetna. It wa a 4-1/2 hour trip but very comfortable. The staff on board were very helpful as I needed assistance with walking. They were very kind. The train was wonderful as it had a glass roof and a staff person would explain what we were seeing. Breakfast and lunch were served with a very nice menu and great tasting food. We traveled in the rain which made Talkeetna difficult to see.

The train portion was canceled so can't speak to that. The boat part was fun and the interpreter at the fish camp and trappers cabin was fun and knowledgeable. We went a ways down the river and dropped off a group of tourists who were boarding a bus. On the way back we went fast and furious. It was fun; more so for the more daring. We sighted a number of bald eagles but no bears - alas. Also no views of Mt. Denali as it was an overcast day.

Unreal, spectacular scenery. Train was clean, spacious and comfortable. Tracks were washed out near Seward so buses were substituted at the end. Well planned and executed in an orderly fashion. Conductor constantly personally supervised ongoings as well as mingled with passengers and answered questions. He struck a fine balance between attending to the operation and safety of the train and giving his personal attention to groups or individuals. These mountains are no joke, as they can be dangerous however, you knew to be in good hands. Much appreciation for the best experience on any vacation ever!

We did get some amazing photos. The conductor tried to slow down to allow for times that a picture was available. There were 4 guides sharing information on the ride. Some of them were easy to listen to, some sounded like they were reading off a script with halting, half-finished sentences. The price for the ride was inflated. It was over $1,000 for my family of 6. There was no food included, you had to buy it. The last part that was miserable was the screaming toddler in our small car. I realize that isn't the fault of the train personnel, but it made for a long, miserable 4.5 hour trip back. For as much as we paid, we didn't feel the value fit the bill.

We took the Winter train from Anchorage to Fairbanks. The train was clean and safe, and the stewards provided lots of good information along the way. The winter train is flag stop so we made a few stops along the way. We saw a moose and an eagle but not much wildlife otherwise. The view of Denali was bright and sunny and beautiful! Rare to get the full view of the mountain because of the weather, but we did! We ate all three meals in the dining room and it was delicious and fairly priced. The trip was 12 hours from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

What a wonderful way to travel from Anchorage to Seward. A great experience from boarding through to the end of the journey. Adventure Class is comfortable, with large windows to take in the grandeur of Alaska. Commentary is clear, informative and gives great stories about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the areas traversed. Coastal scenery of the inlet, mudflats and wetlands. Saw Moose, a trumpeter Swan, and plenty of Dall’s Sheep - all pointed out by the guide. The winter wonderland as you go higher into the mountains is awesome. The glaciers were numerous and some close to the tracks. Drop off walking distance to mist accomodation in Seward.

It was fantastic. We enjoyed the whole experience. I highly recommend this trip. We will do it again if we get back to Alaska.

This trip was part of our Holland America Cruise Tour. It was amazing! We had assigned rail cars and an assigned seat within that car, Each rail car had full view windows on the top floor with comfortable seats and a bar with all types of drinks. You can buy souvenir bottles with unlimited sodas or water or just buy an individual drink. There is also a person that gives you information all along the trip! Martha was in our rail car and she was fabulous! She also had a magazine with souvenirs that we could buy. Downstairs had the dining car with white tablecloths! We had a chef just for our rail car. We had breakfast and lunch on the train and the meals were delicious!! When we were close to Anchorage, the guy from the bar came by each seat to collect for meals, drinks and souvenirs. There were also three bathrooms downstairs in our rail car. Since we were the last car, we had an outside standing/viewing area, too!

Did the 5 day tour through the railroad. Anchorage to Talkeetna, then Anchorage to Seward. All of the travel arrangements went fine and all of our luggage was delivered to hotels and trains painlessly. The excursions were awesome. The actual train trips, using the Goldstar option were the best. The food on the trains was good. The staff was the best. For our first 3 legs we had the same wait staff and bartender, so we made friends. The folks giving the commentary and pointing out items of interest and animals were awesome - you could tell they actually enjoyed what they were doing. Nothing but good to say about the railroad - it exceeded my expectations!

Excellent customer service. Very well organized. The food is very good as well as the Bistro. Everybody is very friendly and professional. We took amazing pictures. The views are incredible and the train slows down to photograph the glacier. Highly recommended!

The best way to enjoy scenic Alaska in comfort. Recommend the Gold Star upgrade for some care views, comfortable seats and ease of food purchase. It’s not as premium as the price suggests, but it’s the only game it town to experience the views.

Winding through snow-capped mountains and along the shore of Turnagain Arm, the Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic ranks among the most scenic train trips anywhere. Although it technically qualifies as transportation, taking passengers from the state's largest city (Anchorage) to the mellow port town of Seward, its primary purpose is sightseeing. Almost everyone on board was either on a cruise ship extension, a package tour, or (like us) an independent but decidedly touristic itinerary. Even the Alaskans we encountered were giving themselves a treat to celebrate a special occasion. (We understand: Living in Albuquerque, we sometimes zip up to Santa Fe for fun.) Although Gold Star (First Class) is considerably pricier than Adventure Class, it may be worth the cost, because it includes a reserved seat in a dome car. Adventure Class passengers have access to their own dome car but can only enjoy the view for a limited time, before being asked politely to make way for others. The view from the Adventure Class assigned seats is limited mostly to trees. Also, a Gold Star ticket comes with meals and two alcoholic (and unlimited nonalcoholic) drinks per segment. Even with the early departure of our southbound train, we appreciated a couple of Bloody Marys en route. What we didn't appreciate, however, was the subpar food. We wish we'd thought about the situation before ordering. The onboard galley was a "finishing kitchen," working with items prepped elsewhere. The scrambled eggs offered at breakfast were clearly poured from a carton (and the accompanying reindeer sausage was an oversized, over salted hot dog). We made the mistake of ordering pot roast for dinner on our return. Not only was it overcooked and barely edible, but the accompanying mashed potatoes looked and tasted suspiciously like military surplus, perhaps from the Afghan War. Stick to salad, chili, burgers and, for breakfast, the thin but tasty barley hot cereal. Or book Adventure Class, pack a snack, and use the savings to treat yourself to some yummy seafood in Seward.

I've been on the Alaska Railroad several times, but this review is specific to June of 2023. I rode the train from Anchorage to Seward to catch a cruise ship after flying into Anchorage. I've ridden before in both Adventure Class and Gold Class and for the shorter trip down to Seward, Adventure Class is fine for me.

Here's the Good -
The train ride from Anchorage to Seward is one of the most scenic standard gauge train rides in the world. You will see all sorts of breathtaking scenery including coastal scenery, mountains, waterfalls, rivers, canyons, rainforest, glacier, and even icebergs! This is such a fantastic trip. There is a good chance you'll spot some wildlife as well, we saw bald eagles and moose but you have to be quick to spot them!

The train equipment is in great shape - the train seats are very comfortable. In Adventure Class there is a vista dome car where you can ride (more on that below in the BAD) and if you are in Gold Class you can walk to the back of your car and stand in an open air viewing platform.

Here's the Bad -

Food options. Alaska Railroad used to provide a dining car where Adventure Class passengers could purchase sit down meals. On this trip the dining car was on the train, but you could only purchase basic snacks - most of the items on the limited snack menu were not available. They also wouldn't let you sit down at the tables and eat in the dining car... you could only purchase snacks and carry them back to your seat.

Dome Car. The Dome Car in Adventure Class is policed by an Alaska Railroad "Tour Guide" who is high-school age. It's totally inappropriate for an 18 year old to tell a senior citizen they have been in the dome for too long and they need to go back to their seat (for the record I'm not a senior, I saw this happen to a very nice man though). The dome car was almost always 1/2 full, there is no need to police it - just let people come and go the way they do on other railroads. (and if the dome is full... sorry.. first come first serve!)

Announcements - Very unprofessional announcements are made throughout the journey. The safety speech at the beginning of the trip threatens passengers with fines and jail time for a long list of no-nos. What a great way to welcome passengers onboard. Many times the tour guide will get on the mic to say something "silly or funny" that just comes across as unprofessional.

I would still recommend this journey to anyone and I will absolutely ride again but there are some serious customer service issues that need to be addressed to make this the world-class experience it should be.

My husband & I built our entire Alaskan vacation around the train. We went from Anchorage to Fairbanks with an overnight stop in Talkeetna which had the best Denali views! We enjoyed the train as we consider train travel to be the most "civilized" kind of travel! The only caution I would have would be to take note that when exiting the seats for the aisle, the floor is not level to the level the seats are at. There is a small step down into the aisle - which I fell on two times. But that was my fault. Just making people aware. But the food service was tasty, the views in the observation car were expansive, the attendants were friendly and the narration was informative. We experienced both levels of service: Adventure class (pay for your own meals) and Gold Star, between different legs of the trip and both were just fine and enjoyable. Very glad to have patterned our trip around the Alaskan Railroad which allowed for excursions on the side.

views were unforgettable and the tour guide was perfect! just the right amount of info at the right time. All the staff was friendly and very helpful. We had driven basically the same route to the Kenai Peninsula after our flight landed in Anchorage. we took the 1/2 day boat trip in Seward then returned in time to ride the train to Anchorage. We were able to leave our car overnight as spent the night in Anchorage.

Absolutely the best way to travel in Alaska. The scenery and the tour commentary was spectacular. Highly recommend! Breakfast on the train wasn’t bad. The staff were all excellent.

A long, comfy, scenic trip. Spotted moose and eagles along the way. Staff shared their knowledge along the way. Two stops, Denali and Talkeetna, allowed us to stretch our legs and breathe in some crisp air.
Opted for lunch and dinner sitting.

The trip as such is wonderful. Then, in Seward, we complemented it with a boat tour of the bay, also wonderful.

Road the Glacier Discovery Train from Anchorage to Whittier for a cruise embarkation and everything was great. Our baggage made it as expected, the views were good, bathrooms were clean, etc.

We had a great family trip on the winter train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Our conductor F Long and assistants Daniel and Dustin were awesome. They were available for questions and took the time to answer them. Our 12 hour journey didn't seem that long. We were able to play games provided on the train a long as we left tables available for others. We were able to walk through the different cars as we needed to. To make breakfast, lunch or dinner reservations, the host would go through each car. We chose lunch as we liked the options better and had to sit across from people we didn't know. This was in order to make room for those who wanted to eat, I get it but was a little uncomfortable for those who do not wish to engage. We were told when wildlife was spotted and the train slowed down so everyone could see which was much appreciated. Scenic sites were also pointed out along the way. There is a bar and snack bar if you would like a drink or small lunch or dinner. We brought snacks and food and drinks on the train, bags are not checked for these items so I'm guessing they are allowed . Check in process was great, staff were very helpful and informative. Looking forward to another trip on a different route!

The train ride was excellent! Train was clean and well kept. Food was good. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The conductor was extremely friendly and informative. The sights and scenery were excellent as well. Overall a very relaxing and enjoyable ride. We enjoyed it so much we decided to ride it back the next day also after our stay in Seward.

I took this trip from Seward to Anchorage 6 years ago, and again a few days ago on my recent visit to Alaska. The views are absolutely gorgeous. One highlight was "eagle alley", the trees were full of eagles. They narrate along the way, but not too much, and the food (chowder and salad) was good. We were in the dome car and the conductor came up and he had some good stories to tell. If you have a chance - buy the ticket and take this ride!

Took rail from Fairbanks to Denali in Adventure class, then on to Talkeetna later, the on to Anchorage in Goldstar class for final leg. Overall great experience and views.
Downsides were cars were very cold with AC blasting. Also Adventure car was quite noisy with young kids running the aisles and crying. Would be better to hsve family cars versus quiet cars.
Dinner in Goldstar was delicious with perfect service.

This is a great way to get from Anchorage to Denali. So much better than being on the bus! Even though it may take a little longer going by train, having the ability to get up and walk around and go outside was a definite bonus. We did the gold service which included meals, which were actually pretty good. Being gold service, there was more legroom, wider seats, that reclined and beverages available throughout the trip. We actually did round-trip on the train from Anchorage to Denali and back to Anchorage and we are so glad that we did versus the bus. The scenery is amazing.

The reason for the poor rating was the food. The food was never hot, some items over cooked, stale rolls, mushy shrimp. My sister upgrade the drink package for her and husband the only two people in their room and they charged them for 4 people and they would not refund any of her money. The employees on the ship and the entertainment were excellent.

Trip highlight! Although from Talketna to Fairbanks you’re on the train for nearly 9 hours, the ride was comfortable and scenic. Seats were spacious and highly padded (surprised us). We had the Gold Star service and the meals were exceptional…honestly! Each car had a beverage station and bathrooms were easily accessed and clean. We had front seats in our car. We saw bear, elk, waterfalls, rivers….beautiful scenery. The ability to go outside and breath the fresh Alaskan air was great. The service on the train and in the station was also exceptional.

Beware of a scam targeting elderly passengers! My family of 4 booked a package directly through the Alaska Railroad reservations group for round trip travel from Anchorage to Denali, 3 nights in Denali, and then a return train ride back to Anchorage. I trusted the Alaska Railroad reservation group to be professional and know what they were doing but they “mistakenly” forgot to book a return fare for my 84 year old parents, leaving them stranded and forcing us to pay $780 ($340 per passenger) so they could return with us to make our flight home. We either had to pay this exorbitant fare or the train would leave without us, and we had no hotel or transportation. It was awful. Upon reaching out to the Alaska Rail for clarification I was very rudely told it was “my fault for not checking the reservation closely”. I worry how many other elderly passengers are left stranded and forced to pay due to a “reservation mistakes”. After how we were treated I do not recommend this group at all. They take advantage of elderly passengers and it’s just not right.

Amazing views. Great tour guide. Very personable conductor. Staff went above and beyond- Left the camera on the train and a staff member ran it down to us so that we could still make our boat cruise on time. Nothing but good things to say about this trip.

This was the final leg of our cruise to Alaska, and it was wonderful experience! Scenery was spectacular and dinner in dining car was great! I highly recommend doing this if you get a chance!

The train proved perfect. We expect ed good service, good food, great views and all the rest all there reviews attest. What we did not expect was forest fires that closed the road from Fairbanks to Denali. The train however did not experience even the slightest delay. Had we driven we would have missed everything planned for Denali. One more reason to take the train!

This is the Holland America train from Anchorage to Denali State Park. What a fantastic experience! if this was the ONLY thing someone did in the area, it's well worth it. Glass-domed train cars; and ours was not crowded due to being end of season (GREAT time to go! early September). Our host / guide was JOSH and he was such a pro! Talked just ENOUGH.. not too much. Told us when photo ops were coming up, and told us about all the regions we were passing through. The beauty of the areas you travel through.. it's unbelievable. We called it "beauty fatigue". The full bar is going the WHOLE TIME :-) and the dining is in the cars below. and it's FINE DINING; with breakfast and lunch (separate check than the excursion). The dining is so organized, as well. They get a "count" of the people who want to dine, then call you down in small groups. The steps between the upper and lower cars are steep and winding. This trip would be hard to do if you had any mobility issues.. you'd just want to sit and look at the scenery. But you'd be missing so much. There's also various viewing decks (between cars), and an open-air caboose. Yes it's 8 hours long.. but you are never bored. A bonus for us: we met alot of nice people who we also saw on the 7-day cruise ship a couple days later.... that made our trip all the more memorable.

An easy and affordable way to get to Seward from anchorage ready for our cruise ship departure in 2 days.
We were in Adventure class.
The rail car seats we’re comfortable with lots of room. We were able to go up to the dome viewing area where there was always a seat available. We got some great photos from up there. A great way to see the wilderness without having the hassle of driving.

I'm lucky enough to have travelled extensively over the years and I can honestly say the train journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks and return is one of my top 3 most memorable experiences. The round trip entails 24 hours on the train. I took a book with me as I felt sure I would get bored at some stage. I didn't read a page!
I booked the trip directly with the train company and was given a 50% discount as I am over 60.
I also booked an hotel room for my overnight stay before travelling to Alaska.
I was informed that if I had taken the journey a bit earlier in the year there would have been a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
All in all, a most wonderful trip.

We took the train from Denali to Talkeetna and enjoyed every minute of the journey. We sat in the Gold Star car with the panoramic windows and outside platform. The views were incredible through the windows and being able to stand out on the platform was really fun. The bar had great drinks and the lunch served in the lower level was fantastic. We would highly recommend this mode of transportation to travel throughout the state - a great way to see the endless beauty of the Alaskan landscape.

It's a long trip and kind of expensive, but I recommend it anyway. The views of mountains, rivers, and wildlife are unforgetable. Announcements ensure you don't miss anything. I ordered the pot roast for dinner. It was excellent and the portion was fairly large. Staff on the train and in the train station were all pleasant and helpful.

Fantastic rail trip from Anchorage to Seward and back. We took the
Gold Star going down, economy coming back at night. Amazing sites and informative narrative. Very friendly employees.

I took two rides. One was from Fairbanks to Anchorage and the other one was from Anchorage to Seward.

Both are worth the value. If you are short on time then do try Anchorage to Seward ride. The whole stretch is scenic and I would love to get on this again.

The RT from Anchorage to Seward was an anniversary gift. We did goldstar travel and it was lovely. The seats were comfy and had a table and footrest. The glass ceiling was great to take the beauty and see the eagles. We did see eagles, bear and moose along the way. While there are curving stairs to get upstairs they also had an elevator. The dining room is compact but the servers hustle and our food was hot and very tasty. Most people on the train were riding to/from Seward to get on/off cruise ship. I've driven to Seward and this was a relaxing comfortable way to travel.

We took the train from Anchorage to Talkeetna. Good way to see the scenery and wildlife. Adventure Class has a shared dome car, but we had no problem securing seats whenever we went up there. No dining service on this trip, and the food in the Bistro Car was not very good.

So many delays on this train and ended up hours behind schedule. No communication from workers about what is going on. No apologies and no offers of reimbursements for the loss of time on our vacation. Will never take this train again.

We were in gold glass which is a complete misrepresentation of the standard of service. The service was poor, the food poor and the overall condition of the train fair. The commentary on board was inane. We did see several elk so the entire trip was not disappointing. However, the trip is promoted as comparable to the Rocky Mountaineer and it falls far short.

We booked the sightseeing car with the glass top canopy. We were with a group of 43 people and they seated us all together. The breakfast served on the train was very good. Our wait staff and tour guide Jade was amazing. She pointed out the highlights during our journey. We were also treated to seeing some Alaska wildlife. Coming into Denali the sights were amazing!

Very nice, clean and modern feel. They have a gift shop with lots of T-Shirts and some souvenirs for purchase. The staff were all helpful and great!
VictorB

Travelled from Fairbanks to Anchorage in May. Highlight was seeing moose and a black bear and arriving safely. That’s where the positives ended. This is not a cheap mode of transport and was very disappointing. Firstly the seats were shabby and dirty, the toilets/bathrooms was smelly and not regularly cleaned on the day long trip. Very little information given about areas we were passing and difficult to hear the announcements over the speakers. Quite useless. Might be ok for people who are familiar with the surrounds but being from Australia, we were looking forward to being informed. The 3 meals served were a joke, cafeteria style, cold to Luke warm and served by ‘students’ who were seemingly petrified of saying anything. The two students we encountered were under no supervision and really had no idea what they were doing. I actually felt sorry for them. The other staff when we did see them were inspiring and untidy in appearance, not a good look. We had previously travelled on The Rocky Mountaineer train. Absolutely fantastic experience. Alaska Railroad need to pull up their socks and improve customer service. Never again.

We boarded at denali through to fairbanks. We were greeted with warm staff that helped our nan board the train. The dinner service was simple but tasteful. And the views were unforgettable. The open carriages were cool.
Definitely couldn't recommend enough.

Wonderful train ride from Anchorage to Seward round trip same day! We sat in first seat going to Seward and 3rd seat on the return trip. We sat in the Goldstar Service area! It was so nice with wonderful views!!! The breakfast and supper served in the dining area was delicious! We had great service in the dining room and the transition was very organized! The bartender in the main seating area was awesome and personable. We all pointed out wildlife to each other along way! We saw moose and eagles! Such a scenic route to Seward! For a good part of the trip it was away from the Highway and we traveled through a mountain tunnel! We chartered a boat with Captain in Seward and enjoyed cruising around Resurrection Bay and viewing wildlife during our layover there. Afterwards we had lunch and shopped some before boarding the train for the return to Anchorage. There are several options one can enjoy during the layover. I highly recommend the Coastal Classic train ride and route!!! It is a must do on your Summer vacation in Alaska!!!

The staff was very help and knowledgeable about the area. It was so nice to sit back and just listen and watch the views without having to worry about the road. Excellent for families!!

We road from Alaska Rail Gold Star from Fairbanks to Denali, from Denali to Anchorage and from Seward to Anchorage. We experienced these rides much more favorably than the Wilderness Express. All Alaska Railway Gold Star services include the dome roof, which was a highlight of our Alaska experience. It provided access to striking views which could not have been experienced in other ways including the landscape, waterfalls, moose, bald eagles, trumpet swans, and glaciers. The food and service were fantastic.

During our land tour into Alaska, we had 2 legs on the Alaska Railroad. Both were amazing! From the food and drinks, to the scenery, both trips were fantastic, everything a train trip in Alaska that could be imagined. What makes it that much more spectacular, was the customer care shown. Inadvertently, I left my backpack at my lodging in Denali at the prior nights lodging. When it was discovered in Anchorage, Shane in luggage handling went above and beyond! Not only did he try to help me go through what luggage was left, he took a report, advised me the steps to take, and when we came back the next day to meet the next train, not only did he remember me, but again, helped me find my bag! AND.... when I tried to tip him for the extra help, he totally refused to take it (not the half way refusal and then take it, but totally refused). That kind of customer care is very rare, and he is a definite asset to the Railroad.

This train trip was a highlight of our two weeks in Alaska! The scenery is stunning from beginning to end with opportunities to see wildlife (we saw dozens of bald eagles as well as a moose) and sweeping views of the mountains. The Gold Star service was worth it for the included meal, drinks, and glass-domed roof. We booked this directly with Alaska Collection by Pursuit, which allowed us to book an afternoon boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park and the evening train ride in a package. We checked our luggage when we arrived for the boat tour and they transferred it to the train for us; it was waiting in Anchorage when we got off the train. They also provided a shuttle from the boat to the train. It was so easy!

We went gold star and it was worth every cent. The doomed carriage was very comfortable with roomy seats. Our breakfast was delicious and the staff were friendly and accommodating. The best part was access to the outdoor carriage. We took spectacular photos of the stunning route. One of the highlights of our trip.

The staff was amazing. Food was good and this time we went adventure class. We were worried about the legroom after being in the Goldstar cars for other rides, but it was great. You actually have more legroom in the passenger cars of adventure class. The seats lean back and you can hear all of the details as well there as in the other cars.

The trip was amazing if you VIP. The train ride itself doesn't offer the The views that as a visitor we wanted. VIP round trip offered 2 drinks per passenger, breakfast and dinner. Well worth it. The views, sun rise, sun set breathtaking! Staff was friendly and outgoing mostly. Clean bathrooms. Not a lot to do in Seward as we had driven down the day before and did the wilderness conservation enter and Portage cruise which saved us some money if you're driving. We used the free shuttle in Seward and gift shopped and enjoyed the food.

The train ride from Anchorage to Seward was very beautiful with great commentary from the crew. On our trip south to Seward I was assigned a seat back away from the doorway which is used to move from car to car. I was in car C which is attached to the snack area/bar. So D, E, and F cars all travel forward to get to the Bar/Food. Of course this is expected on a train. But what I didn’t expect was the staffs inability to enforce the rules of the train. The staff stated several times over the PA system for parents to not allow their children under the age of 13 to move about the train by themselves. But of course there are always those parents that just don’t want to be bothered with actually being a parent. So on the return trip to Anchorage I along with several other adults had to put up with two kids running around back and forth through the passage door into the forward car. The passage doors are heavy and they would slam back and then slam forward. It was so loud it was extremely annoying. Cold air was coming in along with all the noise from the tracks. There was a couple sitting next to me that complained to the train attendant and they were moved to a different car so the kids would not bother them. Instead of addressing the parents to control their children they offer to move you to a different area! Whatever you do don’t say anything to a child because the train supervisor will come and tell you that you can’t tell someone else’s child to stop doing something that is wrong. I asked one of the kids to please find a seat and stop running back and forth between the cars. If the parent would have been with the child I wouldn’t have said anything to him. I’m retired now and a lot has changed in our world. I have to learn to keep to myself as things are moving in the wrong direction in our world. it’s only going to get worse.

Alaska is truly a breath taking experience!

One of the worst customer service experiences I’ve ever had. After paying far too much for these tickets, the conductor had the nerve to wake us up on our way back and accused us of lying about our tickets and stealing from the train. When I proved her wrong, she proceeded to blame the confusion on me, insult my partner and refuse to apologize. I have been on trains all over the world. Nobody does it worse than these idiots. Rent a car.

Our journey on the Alaska Railroad GoldStar Dome from Denali to Anchorage was an enchanting experience! The scenic train ride offered breathtaking views, and the commentary provided was perfectly balanced—informative without being overwhelming. It highlighted key areas of interest without constant chatter, allowing us to soak in the stunning landscapes.

The onboard staff were simply AMAZING, attentive and friendly, ensuring we had a comfortable and enjoyable trip. The food, while not fancy, was decent and fairly priced. The drinks kept flowing, adding to the pleasant atmosphere.

The only drawback was the lack of power outlets in the GoldStar Dome cars, unlike the other cars. However, this minor inconvenience did not overshadow the overall wonderful experience.

If you’re traveling between Denali and Anchorage, the GoldStar Dome option is highly recommended for its excellent service, beautiful views, and overall comfort.

The trip to Alaska was a bucket list item for me. My husband’s only request was that a portion had to be via train. Round trip/same day anchorage to Seward. Train travel was quite nice; bear, moose, eagles….what else could we ask for. We upgraded to gold on the return; probably would have enjoyed it more if we haven’t slept the whole trip back to Anchorage! 😁

Amazing experience! We basically rode all routes (Denali Star, Coastal Classic, and Glacier Discovery). Where available, we rode the Gold Stat train. Trains were on time, efficient with luggage, friendly crew and good food. Staff was great. Scenery was amazing and the only way to see what we saw was from the train. We also booked 3 tours through AR, Wlderness Tundra Tour in Denali, Glacier / Pacer River rafting in Spencer Whistle Stop, and Kanai Fjords National Park cruise from Seward. Transfers were seamless and all tours were excellent, with lots of glaciers and wildlife. What a relaxing way to travel!

This is the most amazing trip ever ! It surpasses the Rockies , and the trans Australia Indian Pacific .

Easy checkin , comfortable and roomy seats , huge picture windows and excellent train crew .

We went adventure class ( cheapest ) - and checked out the rest of the train. We made the best choice … you can always pop up to the dome for a view but actually it’s nicer from your own seat .

Both sides have a perfect view ; we saw Denali in a blue blue sky and A BEAR !
The onboard commentary was excellent; only on when there was something useful or interesting , not endless burble

All staff were polite and super helpful but the whole train loved crew member Cicily and her impeccably behaved assistance dog.
Good meal choices from hot served food to coffee and sandwiches .

Once we cleared up a miscommunication from Viator and paid extra for the Goldstar, this was an incredible experience not to be missed!!! The views, comfort, and meal were all super!

We took 3 legs with Alaska Railroad, Anchorage to Seward, Talkneeta to Denali, and Denali to Anchorage and each trip was wonderful. Would highly reccomend splurging for the gold star class as it comes with 1-2 meals, dome glass windows, comfy seats with footrest and a major recline, and outdoor viewing area, and 2 included drinks. The tour guides are knowledgable about the trip and answer any questions you may have. It's a great way to travel between cities without a car.

We did one way trip for our cruise. They check you in and turn in luggage for delivery to the cruise ship! So you must have your tag attached. If not they had some to place. We saw moose and they actually stopped so we could see. They also stop to pick up passengers along the way.

The best way to see Alaska is by train! We booked the passage with the Major Marine Fjord Tour, and it was incredible! Highly recommend this package.

We left at 12:30pm from Denali and arrived in Anchorage at 8pm. We were in Adventure class. Comfortable seats but you could walk between cars and go up a flight of stairs to the dome car for better views. There was a dining car with food and beverages for purchase. We had brought a Subway sandwich, so we only purchased drinks. Great views of beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests.

During our two August weeks in the 49th State, we took the Alaska Railroad twice, first for a day trip from Anchorage to Seward (reviewed elsewhere) and then from Anchorage to Fairbanks as the "Just the Basics" package, which included one overnight in Talkeetna, two in Denali, and two in Fairbanks (from which we flew home). We also booked, through Alaska Railway, a half-day Tundra Wilderness Tour of Denali National Park. I've reviewed that tour and our accommodations elsewhere. Having Alaska Railroad make those arrangements was both convenient and (given prices in that state) probably saved us money. As to the trip itself, booking Gold Star (First Class) may have been worth it for the view from our assigned seats in a dome car. The two alcoholic (and unlimited nonalcoholic) drinks included was nice. However, the food was subpar, served up from a "finishing kitchen" onboard using such ingredients as scrambled eggs poured from a carton and powdered mashed potatoes that seemed like military surplus dating from the Afghan War. We wished we'd thought about these limitations and ordered salads, chili and burgers. Given that the three segments are each only three to five hours long, you might want to book Adventure Class, pack a snack, and wait to soak in the spectacular views for your overnights in Talkeetna and Denali.

A unique way to see see the Alaskan wilderness and glaciers. I highly recommend Gold Star class for the views of the glaciers, rivers, and lakes. Keep your eyes open for eagles, bear and moose!

The train itself was clean and well run. Left of time, great information from the tour guides in both directions. The views were spectacular from all areas of the train with plenty of photo opportunities. The food onboard was well priced and easy to access with heaps of choice

Took the train as an option to see some scenery and a meal as we travelled to Talkeetna. Got lucky with good weather so the ability to sit in the viewing car and observation decks provided good photo opportunities. Breakfast was included and the quality and taste were both very good. Great service on board and a very pleasant experience.

Very nice . So glad we splurged for the open view cars. It included a nice breakfast and a few free adult drinks. The only negative about it was when we were eating my breakfast during the second round of eating and that was when the most spectacular sites were available to be seen in my missed it. So given an option please get the first or seating for breakfast. Because you have to get up so early if you feel like you have to take a snooze, also the first 45 minutes is not amazing or spectacular like it is in the middle in the end.

This was a beautiful travel adventure on the train. So many scenic pictures & unbelievable close ups on glaciers. The staff on the train were friendly. courteous, professional & very approachable. There was a limited dining menu, but the cooks & wait staff were extremely accommodating trying to make your meal memorable with what they could offer. The tour guides were informative & the train was comfortable. It was an awesome trip all the way around, no complaints, only recommendations to go if you haven't already.

We flew into Anchorage for a cruise, but we needed a way to get to Whittier to board the ship. The cruise line offered a transfer on the Alaska Railroad.

The train offered meal and beverage service. We chose the Brown Bear to warm us up, the turkey and cheddar sandwich for lunch and the key lime tart for dessert. The food was served by friendly wait staff.

The train goes through a couple of tunnels, and it was great fun to see train plunge into total darkness. Even with the rain and cloud cover, the views were amazing, we took a lot of beautiful photos.

The view was gorgeous. The tour director was knowledgeable and fun to listen to. We saw 3 bears, eagles, beluga whales in the distance, glaciers, lakes, rivers. Recommend to sit mid car or end. By the time they saw the wildlife if you sat in the front your viewing was minimal. We sat in the back and had long sight time. Train ride was 4 hours long

Well its an experience … long trip but its worth the trip … Talkeetna is a fun little town to visit … the train staff very friendly and knowledgeable … the fun facts on those who use the train is also intriguing … make sure you bring food and beverages!

This 8-hour Gold Star ride took us 15 hours! Hundreds of people missed connections and lost out on reservations because Gold Star leadership decided to tow a broken down train with our fully loaded train, all at the expense of their customers. Their self-concern and greed was the obvious motivation. The people on the broken train were evacuated, placed on buses at the train tracks, and their luggage thrown in the dirt. We lost hours of time waiting for this to happen, sitting still, and then continued to tow the brokendown train all the way to Anchorage. Kitchen staff and engineers were tasked with carrying luggage to the side and along the tracks. The treatment of their employees and concern for their customers is disgraceful. This stole a day of our vacation. We were all left stranded, without transportation at the train depot, fighting to get our luggage. We had to pay over $500 for a hotel room that we were in for about 6 hours. We were supposed to arrive at our hotel at 8:30 pm, but arrived at 5:00 a.m. instead. Elderly passengers did not have access to needed medication. It was very stressful, as the situation was clouded in uncertainty. If you have health concerns, you should think twice about traveling on the Alaska Railroad. If you have limited time, you should think twice about traveling on the Alaska Railroad. Their crisis management is extremely poor. #leadership failure

We had an incredible experience with the Alaska Railroad from start to finish. The customer service was FANTASTIC every time we called. They answered all of our questions beforehand. Initially, we were only going to take Adventure Class on both trips. However, we wanted to upgrade to Goldstar on one of our trips and when we called to request that, they were readily able to help. We could not ensure that the roundtrip discount would be applied when we changed it online, but they were able to apply that discount very easily when we called.

On board, we were very comfortable in both Adventure and Goldstar classes. We loved both with much to recommend about both experiences. The conductor shared the right about of interesting information during the trips and the train slowed on occasion to point out wildlife and interesting landmarks. It does take a little longer to travel this way, but totally worth doing!

It was a nice trip with amazing views along the way - but it is a long day. There is a small bone/artifact museum on board. We took our twin boys (age 11) and they were fine (but they did have devices). There are a few places you can get off the train to stretch and you can move freely on the train while in motion. Saw Salmon at Twin Bridges, a Moose swimming and 2 swan families with new babies. Kids were given a golden rail spike at the end of the trip. Bring your own drinks/food for the day - no food/drinks available. There are bathrooms. Overall worth the ride - especially if you need a more relaxing day.

We made the entire trip over two weeks from Fairbanks to Seward via rail Road. The Fairbanks to Denali was great as we saw the countryside and mountains we made friends with people on the train. We picked the gold star service and it was well worth it with the passenger car that you could view all the mountains through the domed glass above, as well as in the dining car area. The staff was very service, oriented and friendly. It was easy to move about. If you were going to Alaska, going by railroad is the best way to see the most on board. The conductor and tour guides went out wildlife along the way and important points of interest that you can’t get via The Highway in a tour bus

Wonderful views, spacious carriage with large windows. Comfortable seats and noise level. experienced guides and best of all, the take care of your luggage, check it in and bring on board.
We rode from Anchorage to Whittier to catch a ferry for our onwards journey.

I traveled on the Alaska Railroad from Girdwood to Seward. I took the GoldStar class, which offers an open-air balcony perfect for taking photos. The coach is very comfortable, and the staff are friendly. As the train travels through the Kenai Peninsula, it passes magnificent landscapes with plenty of rivers, Spencer Glacier, lakes, and scenic canyons. You can spot lots of wildlife, including moose, eagles, bears, and even salmon in the nearby rivers.
The train moves quite slowly, but thanks to that you can relax and fully enjoy the breathtaking views.
If you wish, you can even get off in remote areas — there are whistle stops along the route.

I had the most undesirable seat on the train. It was the seat right next to the restrooms and the odors that go with it. The seating configuration is face to face with a table in between with minimal space for feet. The space under the seat is used for carry-on bags which also limit the space for your feet. But the real problem was that our seat was 5 - 6 inches lower than anyone else on the train. Unfortunately my wife and I are on the short side of 5 feet and could not see beyond the seat in front of us. Needless to say, the table in front of us was 5 inches higher and adjusted for the occupants across from us. We looked liked little children sitting at the table. The reason for the lower seat was to allow for handicap seating. This seat should not be assigned to people without a handicap when paying the same as others. For everyone in other seats, it might be a good experience even though you have to jockey with the person across from you for foot space. It makes an otherwise long ride seem even longer.

Our 8 hour train ride turned into a 15 hour train ride. We sat still for so long by the time we saw the scenery we were so tired and annoyed. Train was to leave at 12 pm, it left at 12:40pm we were supposed to be in Anchorage at 8pm our actual time of arrival was after 3 am. Horrible experience

There was no heat on the train. It was a cold damp day and we had cold air blowing on us for the entire trip. We were too cold to enjoy the train ride. Bring winter coat, hat and gloves for the ride.

My daughter and I rode from Fairbanks to Anchorage on July 4th. The views were spectacular. There wasn't much wildlife to be seen...no bears or moose on the entire trip....a little disappointing and we can't blame the train service for that...just the luck of the draw, but the wilderness was beautiful without the wildlife.

We bought the premium seats which were above the kitchen on the top deck. We were expecting the seats to be facing outward, 2 rows facing each way...no. The seating was just as you would see on the regular coach except that there was window viewing when you looked up....there wasn't much to see in the upward direction. There was an aft deck where you could go outside to watch the landscape go by and get some good unobstructed photos.

The food was good and the servers were pleasant.

Unfortunately, there was a couple in our car that was coughing and sniffling all day long. About noon, we asked to be moved away from them, but it was too late. Three days later, we were both exhibiting signs of Covid and tested positive. Needless to say, the rest of our vacation was spent with a fever, chills and other symptoms such that we could only stay in, watch TV and sleep. I'm sure that we weren't the only ones to get sick sitting near them.

Thanks so much to them and the railroad that has absolutely no restrictions whatsoever...not even so much as a sign that says "please do not board if you are exhibiting signs of Covid", for ruining the rest of our vacation. On a plane, you get an air feed from outdoors that can free your space of bugs when you fly. Unfortunately, a train does not have the same High Flow of Fresh Air. Beware of this if you are concerned for your health and the balance of your vacation.

Normally, I would give 4 out of 5 stars and you can read it that way if you have absolutely no fear of sickness on your vacation. Due to the total lack of restrictions in a close and enclosed space, I am knocking this review down to 2 stars. Sorry, but healthy traveling means a lot to me and my family.

If you are traveling in Alaska, this is a must activity. It is a wonderful way to see various parts of Alaska. The staff is very helpful, friendly, and accommodating. A great trip for families with children. I always enjoy traveling on this whole railroad.

I am very glad we did this at least one time. The company set everything up for us including our hotels in Denali and Fairbanks. I was not disappointed with the accommodations. They transported out luggage from the railway in Denali to the hotel and then back again. We did have to pick up our luggage in Fairbanks at the station. It was a comfortable, informational ride with great people. From Anchorage to Denali we did the star package. The food was fine and I really liked being able to go out into the open air part of the car. We did the coach from Denali to Fairbanks and it was also fine. I'm glad we did it once but don't really need to do it again.

This trip was beautiful and fun. We had a delicious breakfast, saw moose and glaciers, and had a great time. Highly recommend.

Wonderful landscapes, I was glued to the window the whole way. It's not cheap, but it really deserves it! I traveled economy from Seward to Anchorage and from Denali to Fairbanks, surely the route that deserves the most is the first! The second one I chose because it cost less than the bus!!

Simply fantastic. We actually road the train up and back from Anchorage to Denali. Traveled gold star class and was a perfect choice. Breakfast was great and lunch was okay….rolls were a bit tough….chowder was pretty good. Views from the gold star class cars just amazing. Staff simply great.

The view was amazing in the glass dome car. We travelled with our 10 year old. Dinner service did not take in consideration of children when they organized when dinner will seve. It was 8:50pm and dinner was not yet available. When we ask if a plate can be brought to the seat for our child, the conductor Vern said he will come back with an menu option. Without asking about dietary restriction, he came back with a plate of food of his choosing and not a menu as asked. When my 10 year old said she could not eat the food, he told her that she will not get any food then. His response was unnecessary and very rude with his mocking tone. The whole car was shocked with his behavior toward a 10 year old child. We paid for gold star service but got terrible inappropriate behavior from a conductor instead.

The views are amazing. It was lovely. We took the train all the way to Anchorage which is long, but totally worth it. Sight seeing at its best! Definitely recommend

We purchased the premium Gold Star service from Denali NP to Anchorage. First the positive:
The scenery is awesome, and the ride is comfortable- as good or better than Amtrak in the lower 48. Very smooth. The plexiglas-domed cars are great for viewing the mountains and landscape.

Not so good: the attendant serves as a trip narrator. We had 2: the first half of the trip she was knowledgeable and clearly had the insight of someone who had life experience in Alaska. However, after the 1/2 hour mid-trip stop for a crew change (about 3 hours into the trip), the second person only knew to read a script about the trip. We had already read or heard from our Orbridge tour director all of the information presented. Also, throughout the entire trip, the points of interest were already behind us before the oral description (Gold Star service is in the front of the train).
The worst: the food service is a key selling point. We had lunch ond dinner in a very nice dining car. For lunch, my wife and I had cheeseburgers with chips, and they were good. Not premium, but good. They were apparently out of the locally-crafted IPA beer I wanted and substituted another one, without explanation or apology. We weren’t served lunch until about 3 pm, about 2.5 hours into the ride.

Dinner was a disaster. We were called for the dining car at around 7:15, only 45 minutes before the scheduled arrival in Anchorage. We were the last table in the dining car to have our orders taken. Upon ordering, I requested a garden salad, but I was told that there was only time for the main course. I ordered the cod, which I had been told was the better choice.

Every other table received their food (albeit without the soup or salad course) but we were told at least 3 times that our food would be out soon. It wasn’t. It was 7:45 before food arrived. The cod for all 4 of us was uncooked except for the edges of the fillet. I had about 3 bites and told the waiter, who replied that the only option was to re-order a dinner salad. It was nearly 8 pm and we were on the outskirts of Anchorage. I declined, as they had already informed us that food service was ending.

We were told that we would have a choice of assorted desserts and drinks in the upper main section; however, there was no dessert offered. Instead, there was a tray of packaged desserts, which one would find in the frozen food section of a grocery.

To add insult, the train arrived over 1/2 hour late in Anchorage.

My advice is to save your money- don’t make food reservations. Food is available about the national park, and Anchorage has excellent restaurants. Bring your own snacks for the trip and don’t use the dining car.

Best way to travel! We did the gold star service from Anchorage to Seward, comfortable seats in domed car included breakfast and drinks. The handled our luggage directly to our cruise ship as well. The views were amazing! Great way to see Alaska, narration was great. Arrived right on time11:20 so plenty of time to meet tours.

What a treat to be able to sit in the domed cars and enjoy the scenery while traveling from Anchorage to Denali. With dining a drinks included, this was a first class experience. The narrators gave commentary along the way. The food was good. The bar service was excellent. Can’t imagine a nicer way to make this trip.

Splurge for the glass dome top - Gold Star Service. Especially if you're a first-time visitor. It's worth the money and surprisingly the dinner was delicious. The cars were clean, seats were comfortable, the bathrooms were really nice. They have a viewing deck outside which I took advantage of. Priceless experience.

Due to bad weather , our flight to the Denali Glacier was sadly cancelled. Having experienced the delightful town of Talkeetna the day before ,we were in a quandary as to how to spend an overcast day . Thanks to a suggestion from our wonderful morning waitress ( did not catch her name ) at Latitudes Restaurant ( we ate there 5 times … it is fantastic) we took the Hurricane Turn Railroad ride through beautiful scenery and opportunities to spot wildlife . A highlight was seeing a young moose having dinner in a small lake. The conductor stopped the train allowing guests to take numerous photos. He walked through each car making sure people saw the moose . Mary, a wonderful guide on the train also made sure people saw specific sights. We sat on the left ( River Side, according to Mary) but the Non- River side was equally impressive … and everyone got up and moved around anyway, so selecting a “ good” side was a non- issue.
We would like to give a huge shout out of praise for the entire staff we encountered on this unexpected excursion. A young Railroad attendant on the train heading up to Fairbanks prior to our Hurricane Trip , was helpful in contacting the right authorities so we could buy tickets. Our online attempts didn’t work ( our problem … not Alaskan Railroad’s)
The young lady’s name is Rachel and she is the epitome of what a great staff member of a large organization should be: Friendly, knowledgeable, personable and ultimately helpful. We eventually met James D the ticketing agent who also was helped to load baggage for the Fairbanks trip. Talk about hardworking people!! Thank you ! We highly recommend the Hurricane Turn Trip!!!!

Traveling from Anchorage to Fairbanks aboard the Alaska Railroad's flagship train, the Denali Star, is something VERY special. Hubby, friends, and I decided to split the trip into two parts. The first leg of the journey, we boarded in Anchorage. We were met with a great crew who answered all our questions and made sure our luggage was taken care of pronto! We then found our seats in the GOLDSTAR section - they were super cushy and there were windows from the seat to the well into the ceiling (dome ceilings)!! Also, there is a table and a place to hold your electronics. If you need to "power up" any of your technology, the crew will help you find an available outlet. The best part of the GoldStar class was being able to stand outside in an open car train. You also receive meals as part of the price of your ticket. I must admit that I was beyond amazed at the sights and the information shared by the on-board docents (crew). The first 8 hours went by so fast! After spending a full day in Denali- we again boarded the train and opted for the Adventure Class seating. Although there is no formal dining experience, as with the GoldStar class, there was ample food for purchase. This four-hour trip was highlighted by our sitting on the top closed dome floor. It was wonderful! I would suggest getting a taxi service to await you at the Fairbanks center. The Alaska Railroad has a commitment to accessibility, and it showed aboard the trains. There was a lift for wheelchairs, ramps, and straps for mobility equipment. They are also sensitive to the needs of people who prefer a quieter environment. The ALASKA RAILROAD is a solid WIN for anyone who loves to travel - solo, couple, families, and groups of friends!

They kept us up to date with what would happen due to the wild fire in Denali National Park. The train company and the employees in Anchorage have been great. We booked a hotel with a 3rd party operator (trip.com) for the Denali Bluffs. It's been 2 hours and they haven't confirmed they will reimburse us even thought the hotel does not have electricity.

Thank you Amtrak Anchorage
You are the best!