Page 286 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

284  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Traveling by Bus and Train

Although slower than car and plane travel, taking a bus or
train in Alaska can be an enjoyable way of explor ing the
region. Long-distance bus services, however lim ited, are
the least expensive way to travel, although some places
are served only by costly tour buses. Within the larger cities,
local buses are the only form of public transport. Although
these tend to focus on daytime services for local commuters,
they are also useful to visitors since most centrally placed
attrac tions lie along or near main bus routes. The best way
to cover long distance journeys within Alaska is through
the several private bus lines, as well as the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Railroad train pulling into Denali
Alaska Marine Highway, White Pass and Yukon Route National Park station
Railroad (WP&YR), and Gray Line buses in Alaska.
trips each summer. It’s an
especially popular option with
young international travelers.

Traveling by Train
Traveling by train in Alaska
means riding the Alaska
Gray Line tour bus Railroad (see pp286–7) bet ween
Seward and Fairbanks or taking
the tourist route on the White
Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
(see pp152–3) from Skagway.
While rail services are limited
and relatively expensive, they’re
both relaxing and scenic, and
Skagway’s popular yellow tourist bus most visitors will want to
experience at least one rail
Traveling by Bus
Kennicott Shuttle buses run trip during their stay.
In Alaska, only a handful of between Glennallen and The Alaska Railroad is an
popular routes are served McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias extremely pop ular and con-
by long-distance buses, and National Park. Gray Line Alaska venient way to reach Denali
those services that do exist are runs tours to places of interest National Park. While there are
generally infrequent. Many throughout the state. no overnight trains and,
services are operated only To reach Alaska by bus from therefore, no sleeper services,
during the summer. the Lower 48 states, it is best all visitor-oriented trains on
The best-served routes are to take Greyhound Canada to the main line between Seward
those between Anchorage, Whitehorse, and connect to the and Fairbanks offer onboard
Fairbanks, and the Kenai Penin- Alaska Direct Bus or Alaska/ dining services. Because so
sula, and points in between. Yukon trails to Anchorage or many cruise ships and tour
Park Connection Motorcoach Fairbanks. Green Tortoise is a companies use the Alaska
runs from Seward to Denali unique bus touring company Railroad to trans port their
National Park via Talkeetna, with several 10- or 14-day passengers from Seward
Anchorage, and Whittier.
Seward Bus Lines connects
Anchorage with Seward while
the Homer Stage Line runs
between Anchorage, Homer,
and Seward. Alaska-Yukon
Trails has a year-round service
between Anchorage and
Fairbanks, as well as summer
services to Dawson City and
Whitehorse in Canada.
Interior Alaska Bus Lines
operates ser vices between
Anchorage, Fair banks, and Tok. Park shuttle buses lining up for passengers, Denali National Park

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