Colorado Greenlights Ski Train Expansion to Steamboat Springs

Colorado's Legendary Powder May Soon Be Just a Train Ride Away

A new take on the Polar Express. Photo: Getty Images

Good news for skiers, riders, and anyone tired of the soul-sucking crawl along I-70—Colorado is laying the tracks for a new passenger rail service that could get you to Steamboat Springs without touching a gas pedal.

Following the growing success of the Winter Park Express, state officials and Union Pacific Railroad have inked a major agreement that opens the door for year-round rail service from Denver to Steamboat and beyond. The deal ensures long-term freight operations through the Moffat Tunnel, but more importantly, it gives Colorado a shot at building out the long-discussed Mountain Rail corridor.

The proposed route would run along Union Pacific’s existing Central Corridor rail line, linking Denver Union Station to Steamboat Springs, with potential stops near Steamboat Resort, Hayden, Craig, and other mountain communities. The Moffat Tunnel, a 6.2-mile bore through the Continental Divide, remains the linchpin in the operation.

The ski train takes about 2.5 hours to travel from Denver’s Union Station (pictured) to Winter Park. Photo: Getty Images

And while this isn’t an overnight rollout, the implications are big: fewer cars on I-70, cleaner travel to the high country, and a future where your ski weekend starts with a beer and a window seat instead of white-knuckling through a snowstorm on Berthoud Pass.

If Winter Park’s rising ridership is any sign, skiers are down to ditch the car keys. With state funding and infrastructure in motion, it’s only a matter of time before Colorado’s next great ski train rolls into Steamboat.