Dumb Question About Alaska Railroad

[RaiderDuck]

If we're taking the early morning Coastal Classic train from Anchorage to Seward, do we board at the depot in the airport, or the depot on 1st St? We'll be staying at the downtown Hilton beforehand.

Edited August 29, 2019 by RaiderDuck

[mapleleaves]

Only the cruise contracted trains stop at the airport.

If you booked with the Railroad, you'll board at the depot downtown. 

 

And if you're boarding your ship that same day, let the baggage handlers know ( the next time you see your luggage it will be in your cabin).

[RaiderDuck]

1 hour ago, mapleleaves said:

Only the cruise contracted trains stop at the airport.

If you booked with the Railroad, you'll board at the depot downtown. 

 

And if you're boarding your ship that same day, let the baggage handlers know ( the next time you see your luggage it will be in your cabin).

Awesome! Thank you!

[jlatels]

Just a note, when we traveled from Seward to Anchorage last Saturday, we were on a bus for 35-40 minutes because the train couldn't pass the river. It was no big deal as they arrange everything for you. Have fun!

[~*Lou*~]

And when they say be at the station one hour before the train goes, you can get there a bit closer to departure time. Boarding the train started 30 mins before the train went. When you arrive, you hand in your luggage at the white tent next to the train station main building (if you are boarding a ship that same day), then walk into the main station building. Line up to get your tickets from the ticket office (I had booked online through the Alaska Railroad website, this "check in" involves showing some photo ID) and then you wait until boarding the train starts. We rushed our breakfast to get there exactly 60 mins before but the queue to check in/get tickets wasn't long, we could have got there 45 mins before departure, and still had heaps of time, even allowing for them handling our luggage. They just don't want people (with bags for cruise ships) arriving 10 mins before the train goes!

[don't-use-real-name]

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Those cabin luggage tags that you printed off your eDocs put them on your luggage before giving to the

people in the white tent.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

As noted your luggage will be taken by separate carrier (truck) to the ship and loaded and find its way

to your cabin door.

There will be limited room for luggage on the train thus using the truck is a better method and faster.

The train will not wait for loading luggage - travels slower to see the sites and photo opts - the truck

travels at road speed. It is an excellent system and works well.

Only take your carry on luggage (documents passport pills medications a change of clothes cameras

binoculars) on the train with you.

 

Readers any more comments ? 

[Msterl63]

On 8/29/2019 at 9:02 PM, don't-use-real-name said:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Those cabin luggage tags that you printed off your eDocs put them on your luggage before giving to the

people in the white tent.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

As noted your luggage will be taken by separate carrier (truck) to the ship and loaded and find its way

to your cabin door.

There will be limited room for luggage on the train thus using the truck is a better method and faster.

The train will not wait for loading luggage - travels slower to see the sites and photo opts - the truck

travels at road speed. It is an excellent system and works well.

Only take your carry on luggage (documents passport pills medications a change of clothes cameras

binoculars) on the train with you.

 

Readers any more comments ? 

We are flying in two days early and staying the first night in Anchorage and the second night in Seward.  We will be taking the train to Seward so wonder where we check in our luggage at the train station.  We have never ridden a train before and don't know what the procedure is.  Does anyone know how we should do this?

[don't-use-real-name]

This is a presumption based on the non-cruise tour railroad trips on the Alaska RR.

 

The daily Anchorage Seward trip will be a small consist of cars probably on the order of 7 cars

unlike the Cruise day trains with up to 15.

1 of those cars will be a baggage car.

At the Anchorage Depot to right of the building as you face the tracks is a tented structure.

That is where you luggage/baggage is checked - loaded into small wire rack containers and

then fork-lifted into the baggage car.

 

Only carry-on bags are allowed in the train coaches - keep the important stuff with you -

passport ID $$$ cameras binoculars medications and of course YOUR TRAIN TICKETS !

If in the Gold Star (First Class) dome car your meals and beverages are complimentary

if in the Adventure class there is a café concession car to purchase snacks and drinks.

You can bring along your own food and beverages

 

At Seward these wire containers will be off loaded by forklift and made available somewhere

in the immediate area for your claiming of your luggage.

Due to the volume of luggage of cruise guests another method is used by trucking it

 

If you take the Alaska RR from Anchorage to Fairbanks or any of the cities on that route -

Wasilla - Talkeetna - Denali - that is the routine procedure for handling of luggage unless

part of a cruise or otherwise tour.

 

You can call or email Alaska RR for confirmation on this at:

 

Reservations & Information:
800.544.0552
reservations@akrr.com

 

Since you are arriving a day early for the train trip - if you are at one of the hotels close to

the train station (highly recommended) you can walk down to the Depot and stop and

talk with the Station Agents about how this is handled - best done mid-day with no trains.

If you are in the Gold Star dome you can check if there are any reserved seating assignments.

If the train is full - try and get seats as far forward for best viewing.

I believe the Adventure (coach) Class is all open seating.

 

Side note while at the Depot walk across the tracks to the Ulu knife factory

and catch the free shuttle service back up the hill to your hotel or reasonably close.

[Msterl63]

On 1/28/2020 at 5:47 PM, don't-use-real-name said:

This is a presumption based on the non-cruise tour railroad trips on the Alaska RR.

 

The daily Anchorage Seward trip will be a small consist of cars probably on the order of 7 cars

unlike the Cruise day trains with up to 15.

1 of those cars will be a baggage car.

At the Anchorage Depot to right of the building as you face the tracks is a tented structure.

That is where you luggage/baggage is checked - loaded into small wire rack containers and

then fork-lifted into the baggage car.

 

Only carry-on bags are allowed in the train coaches - keep the important stuff with you -

passport ID $$$ cameras binoculars medications and of course YOUR TRAIN TICKETS !

If in the Gold Star (First Class) dome car your meals and beverages are complimentary

if in the Adventure class there is a café concession car to purchase snacks and drinks.

You can bring along your own food and beverages

 

At Seward these wire containers will be off loaded by forklift and made available somewhere

in the immediate area for your claiming of your luggage.

Due to the volume of luggage of cruise guests another method is used by trucking it

 

If you take the Alaska RR from Anchorage to Fairbanks or any of the cities on that route -

Wasilla - Talkeetna - Denali - that is the routine procedure for handling of luggage unless

part of a cruise or otherwise tour.

 

You can call or email Alaska RR for confirmation on this at:

 

Reservations & Information:
800.544.0552
reservations@akrr.com

 

Since you are arriving a day early for the train trip - if you are at one of the hotels close to

the train station (highly recommended) you can walk down to the Depot and stop and

talk with the Station Agents about how this is handled - best done mid-day with no trains.

If you are in the Gold Star dome you can check if there are any reserved seating assignments.

If the train is full - try and get seats as far forward for best viewing.

I believe the Adventure (coach) Class is all open seating.

 

Side note while at the Depot walk across the tracks to the Ulu knife factory

and catch the free shuttle service back up the hill to your hotel or reasonably close.

Thank you so much!  That is very helpful information.

[Kitty Ellas Mom]

Not a dumb question.  Exactly what this forum is for.