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Alaska
Railroad has been running the 360-mile
route from Anchorage to Fairbanks since
1923, so they know it inside and
out, and they pull all the cars,
even the ones owned by Holland America
and Princess. There are several reasons
to choose an Alaska Railroad car. You’ll
have to choose between two levels of
comfort and service. No matter which
you take, you’ll see the same
scenery as everyone else—the
rugged terrain and jagged peaks of
Alaska in all her majesty, as you chug
your way north.
One of the most unique features of Alaska
Railroad is the tour guides they use.
During the school year, the Anchorage
School District, in partnership with
the Alaska Railroad, trains high schoolers
to provide commentary on the Alaska Railroad
trains. The best candidates are chosen
for this prestigious program. So when
school is not in session (during the
summer, mainly), these extensively trained
tour guides give commentary through the
trip. Tour guides provide commentary
in both the coach class and GoldStar
cars when school is not in session.
Alaska Railroad’s GoldStar Service features the newest and most luxurious of all railcars. All the seats in these double-decker dome cars give passengers a full 360-degree view. All seats also face forward, with the option to rotate seats to allow for a party of four to face one another, though most passengers prefer to face forward.
You’ll have the convenience of a full bar in the upper level seating area and a full-service dining area at the lower level of the car. The cars also feature interior design elements of local Alaskan artists, including whale-bone sculptures and reverse-glass paintings that highlight the flora and fauna of the rail belt. Unlimited non-alcoholic drinks are included with the ticket price and are served seat-side. There’s also an open viewing platform on the upper level with a glass roof at the back of the car, so you can capture some of the best photos with an unobstructed view. The GoldStar cars provide the only outdoor platform on the train at the upper level.
Adventure Class has the benefit of being the least expensive option. The cars in Adventure Class have comfortable, forward-facing seats with lots of leg room and large picture window to look out. There are two vista dome cars on the Denali Star and Coastal Classic trains for Adventure Class passengers. the Glacier Discovery Train has one vista-dome car. These classic cars have upper level seats that are left unassigned and are open to everyone. Each car can accommodate about 22 - 24 people at a time in the upper-level viewing area, and passengers share time in the dome seats on a busy day.
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