The Alaska Railroad’s Gov. Bill Sheffield Ted Steven’s International Airport Depot (I don’t know the proper name to call the depot since it receives no regularly scheduled passenger service) is a clear example of the power of Senator Ted Stevens at securing congressional earmarks for Alaska at the height of his powers in the 1990s. The 3.5 mile long spur on a concrete viaduct off of the Alaska Railroad mainline between Downtown Anchorage and Steward, that feels like an urban rail project, opened in 2003 costing $28 million dollars. The infrastructure of the rail depot and airport line-spur is an airport-rail connection that most US cities would be jealous off.
The depot has unfortunately never received any regularly scheduled passenger (or freight) service from the Alaska Railroad. The only service it sees is from the Grandview Cruise train, a special train between the airport and Steward exclusively for cruise ship passengers (costing an upcharge from the basic bus transfers), it uses a fleet of single-level dome cars normally, and runs directly to the cruise ship dock instead of the main Steward Station, primarily for cruise ship passengers. These trains normally connect with Crystal Cruises.
The station a clear example of how (especially in the 1990s) powerful Federal politicians could get money for pork-barrel projects for capital infrastructure expenses but there is much money in the US Federal budget for long-term operating expenses. The project was simply fully funded by Senator Ted Stevens before any actual feasibility studies were done. In addition to the cruise ship charters, members of the public can rent the large station house area under the station platform (complete with a full-scale commercial kitchen) for weddings and other special events (or you could charter an Alaska Railroad train to it).
The station entirely benefiting private transportation or businesses seems like a lot for $28 million. Ideally the station would be used for regional rail train between the airport, downtown Anchorage, and the Matsu Valley, ending at present Alaska Railroad station in Wasilla. This doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon with the former Commuter Rail Task force rescinded by Gov. Dunleavy in 2019. Overall Anchorage is in a unique situation to pilot commuter rail service in the winter months, using existing Alaska Railroad equipment, that is unused in winter when no tourist trains operate. The https://commuterrailak.com/ Commuter Rail Coalition is a good place to get more information on this proposed pilot commuter train program.
To reach the station passengers leave security and head down a pair of escalators where the baggage claims are on either side. From here passengers follow the signs to the Alaska Railroad Station, Car Rental and Parking lots. Passenger a bank of escalators with a staircase in between them (there are also elevators). These escalators lead to a tunnel with a unique light sculpture on the roof and splits with access to the car rental in one direction and another bank of escalators with a staircase inbetween (plus two elevators) that lead back up to street level.
Up at street level is where the actual station entrance is. Here a glass wall (and shut doors) closes off the entrance into the rail station with a sign with gold text in blue for the Bill Sheffield Alaska Railroad Depot. A sign says “Attention Rail Travelers: The Grandview Cruise Train is a chartered service and is the only train departing from the Bill Sheffield Depot at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport” smaller texts says “The following trains depart from the Anchorage Depot located at 411 W. First Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Trains operate daily mid-May to mid-September, with the exception of the Aurora Winter Train which operates mid-September to Mid-May on weekends only.” Below this are the schedules of the Denali Star, Coastal Classic, Glacier Discovery, and Aurora Winter Trains.
Peering into the station, a staircase with escalators on either side are clearly visible under a sign that says To Rail Platform. In the distance along a windowed wall are clearly open to the room, airline style ticket counters, with space for luggage.
The staircase with escalators leads up to a second level of the station house where doors lead out to the end of a two track, high-level island platform. One bumper block is directly next to, the other track runs a bit over the top of the station building. The platform is completely covered by a modern angled canopy structure that is at a bit of an angle and overhangs both tracks a little bit. Looking up at the platform from surrounding parking lots and parking garages four benches on the platform are clearly visible. There are also two fenced off/behind doors emergency exit staircases down at street level.
Photos 1-21: May 24, 2024
