The Denali Star at Denali Station, July 1998. Click to enlarge.
Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
DENALI STAR
The Denali Star is a passenger and semi-luxury train operated by the Alaska Railroad between the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks Alaska. It is a seasonal train, only operating between the months of May and September. The Aurora Winter Train operates along the similar route during the rest of the year at a less frequent weekend schedule. The train is ridden by many tourists visiting the Denali National Park. The train consists of single level coaches and dome cars.
In 2020, summer services began in July in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Denali Star Route Map. Click to enlarge.
(Alaska Railroad, Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0)
Stations
The Denali Star stops only at the following stations:
Anchorage
Wasilla
Talkeetna
Denali
Fairbanks
Overview
Service type: Inter-city/Luxury
Status: Operating
Locale: Alaska
Current operator: Alaska Railroad
Route Termini: Anchorage / Fairbanks
Stops: 5
Distance traveled: 358 mi (576 km)
Average journey time: 11 hours 45 minutes
Service frequency: Daily (May through September)
On-board services
Classes: "Adventure" and "GoldStar Service"
Observation facilities: Viewing deck and dome car
Entertainment facilities: Tour Guide
Baggage facilities: Available at Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)
Denali Park Depot is a seasonal passenger railroad station located within Denali National Park.
It is adjacent to the visitor center located in Denali Park. Click to enlarge.
(Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)