Alaska Railroad cancels popular spring ski train

ANCHORAGE - On the same day it announced 127 layoffs, the Alaska Railroad Corp. told the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage it has canceled next spring's ski train.

A tradition going back to the 1940s, the train has carried thousands of skiers into the remote backcountry of Grandview, south of Anchorage, and Curry, near Talkeetna.

Railroad Vice President Wendy Lindskoog told The Anchorage Daily News it's canceling all charter trains from November through April, with the possible exception of the Holiday Train to Seward.

Not running winter charters will allow the railroad to park some cars for the season. Regularly scheduled passenger service to Fairbanks will continue through the winter.