The launch of a ski train to Steamboat Springs is now likely after Colorado signed a 25-year rail agreement with Union Pacific to expand mountain rail service from Denver. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The launch of a ski train to Steamboat Springs is now likely after Colorado signed a 25-year rail agreement with Union Pacific to expand mountain rail service from Denver.
Skis and snowboards are positioned on a ski rack inside the Winter Park Express as the train arrives at Winter Park resort in Winter Park on Dec. 28, 2024. Amtrak, which operates the train, uses the 6.2 mile long Moffat Tunnel to pass through the Continental Divide, on the trip from Denver’s Union Station to the ski resort. (Jason Connolly, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Governor Jared Polis confirmed that the state secured rights to operate three roundtrip trains daily through the Moffat Tunnel, a 6.2-mile route crossing the Rockies. Union Pacific retains its freight access but will now share tracks for passenger travel.

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The project begins with service from Denver to Granby by 2026, covering a portion of the future 230-mile Mountain Rail corridor. This expansion aims to ease traffic on Interstate 70 and improve rural mobility.

Ski train service to reduce mountain traffic congestion

Under the agreement, Colorado can operate up to 506,000 passenger train miles per year. The phased plan includes stops in Fraser, Granby, Steamboat Springs, and eventually Craig. A commuter route from Oak Creek to Craig is also in development.

Union Pacific proposed the partnership as freight traffic has declined—from 30 daily trains to six—due to falling coal shipments. The new lease replaces a 99-year deal, previously costing just $12,000 annually.

Ski train corridor supported by funding and local demand

The state allocated $3 million in 2023 to plan the corridor, with Winter Park to Granby scheduled as the first segment. That stretch already hosts Amtrak’s California Zephyr route westbound.

To build momentum, Colorado subsidized ticket prices on the Amtrak Winter Park Express, dropping fares by 40% this season. As a result, ridership grew from 17,500 to 44,000.

In addition, Union Pacific will sell the Burnham Lead Line and 58-acre Burnham Yard in Denver. The purchase will help eliminate three crossings, improve safety, and enable new development near central transit routes.

Lisa Kaufmann, senior strategic advisor to the governor, said the mountain rail corridor will become “one of the most beautiful and affordable alternatives to highway traffic in the U.S.”

Source: coloradosun.com

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