Hello Reader, it is Kev again!

Welcome back! Do you hit the slopes? Why not fly into Denver and take the train to Winter Park?

Winter Park Express is Back—And Tickets Starting at $9!

The 2025-26 Winter Park Express season kicks off December 19, and this year brings some of the best news yet for budget-conscious skiers and snowboarders.

Fares Just Got Even Better

Thanks to the Colorado Department of Transportation's ongoing partnership with Amtrak, ticket prices have dropped significantly. You can now ride the Winter Park Express for as low as $9 for adults and $4.50 for children — that's less than half of last season's prices!

Last year, this state partnership led to a 150% increase in ridership, demonstrating that when you offer affordable, convenient train service through the mountains, people prefer it over sitting in I-70 traffic.

2025-2026 Season Details

The train operates on a convenient schedule for weekend trips.

Holiday Weekends:

• December 19-21 & 26-28, 2025
• January 2-4, 2026

Regular Service:

• January 8 - March 29, 2026
• Thursday through Sunday each week
• 57 round-trips total

Bonus: Celebrating 50 Years of Mary Jane

Winter Park Resort's legendary Mary Jane mountain turns 50 this season! Known for its challenging moguls and expert terrain, Mary Jane has been a Colorado skiing tradition since 1975 — just like the ski train itself.

Skip the Traffic, Ride the Train

Your skis and snowboard ride free as carry-ons, and you'll enjoy spacious reclining seats with no middle seat, panoramic mountain views from the Sightseer Lounge, and café service onboard.

Read the 2025-2026 guide: travelswithkev.com/amtrak-winter-park-express​

Book your tickets: Tickets are on sale now at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress​

Amtrak Invests $11 Million to Upgrade Wisconsin Stations

Amtrak recently announced major accessibility improvements at two unstaffed stations on the Empire Builder and Borealis routes: Columbus and Tomah stations in Wisconsin.

The improvements, funded by federal investment, include:

• New concrete boarding platforms
  • 350 feet in Columbus
  • 330 feet in Tomah (which is heated!)
• Accessible pathways from the stations to the parking areas
• Modern amenities such as LED lighting and detectable warning systems.
• Both stations also received upgrades to their waiting areas and utilities.

Here's what this means for you

Better platforms and improved pathways eliminate the difficulty of maneuvering rolling luggage and negotiating multiple stairs. This benefits those with mobility challenges, families with kids and bags, and elderly passengers navigating the station.

These Wisconsin projects are part of Amtrak's larger accessibility effort. Over the past year, 19 stations nationwide have achieved full ADA compliance, with another 50 planned for completion within the next year. Since 2011, Amtrak has invested over $1 billion in 147 stations, aiming for 100% accessibility across the National Network by 2029.

Indiana-Illinois Connecting Bus Service Restored

Jefferson Lines Inc. is now operating a restored daily Amtrak connecting bus service between Indianapolis, IN, and Galesburg, Illinois, plus intermediate stops. The bus service started on November 7, 2025.

The buses will stop at Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Danville, and Peoria, offering convenient connections between Midwest regional trains and long-distance routes such as the Southwest Chief, City of New Orleans, and California Zephyr.

This is a daily service. Westbound buses leave Indianapolis in the morning to connect with the Cardinal, while eastbound buses depart Galesburg in the afternoon. You can make your bus-train connection through Amtrak for seamless booking experience.

For schedule and more, check out Amtrak's announcement on this new bus service.

What has Kev been up to?

Last week I helped with another new organ, but this week, I think I am off.

That doesn't mean I have time off from playing the organ, as I am preparing for a double short silent film. I have some time because the performance is before Christmas.

On Wednesday, we had our tree taken down! I look out my office window and see a crane! While it's sad to lose a tree, it was dying and needed to come down.

Don't forget about my Patreon sale! If you’ve been thinking about joining, new members in November can get 75% off their first month’s subscription with code 52ABD. Memberships start at $5 (regular price), and you can cancel at any time.

Patreon members did get to see a draft of the Amtrak Route Guides I am working on.

Looking at the Markers

Thanks for joining me this week, and don’t forget about Amtrak's Double Point Plus promotion for travel booked through November 20, 2025.

Interested in supporting this work? Check out my Patreon or other support options. Can't contribute right now? No problem—just sharing this with fellow travelers helps more than you know!

Until Next Week…

Safe travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith