Tunnel?

[Macy Jean]

I have read about a tunnel going to Whittier.We are going from Mt. McKinley to Whittier and pick up the Coral Princess, do we use this tunnel? Does any one know how long it takes to go from Fairbanks to Denali on the train? How about Denali to Mt McKinley? Mt. McKinley to Whittier? Thanls.

[tadjr]

Everyone going to Whittier arriving by land goes through this tunnel. When you exit the tunnel, you get the most beautiful sight of the ship sitting right there. Be sure to try to be on the left side coming out of the tunnel since this is the side the ship is on.

[ruvidu]

We just got back from this trip on 5/22 and this is correct to the best of my recollection.

The train ride each day is 4 - 41/2 hours which just seemed to fly by to us. We are a well traveled couple but were just amazed by the sights on the train. You will have the same reserved table each day and there will be a bar in each car serving alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, tea, and coffee.
The bus ride from McKinley to the ship was about 4 1/2 hours as well.
The tunnel took about 10 minutes to transverse but I was amazed. This was a single lane tunnel that cars, trucks, buses and trains all use. Traffic is one way with the other way waiting at the ends of the tunnel for their turn. Our bus driver from McKinley Princess said if we did not get through the tunnel at the 12:30 PM time slot we would have had to wait until 2:30 PM to do so.
Remember that you can only have one carry on per person when you board the train. Space is tight.
We wish we were going with you.
Russ

SC Traveler
May 11-22-2004 Princess Land and Sea Tour

[Budget Queen]

Yes you go through a 2 1/2 mile tunnel. The rail Fairbanks- Denali Park is about 4 hours, Denali Park to Talkeetna- 4+ hours then a 50 mile bus ride to McKinley lodge. Bus from McKinley lodge to Anchorage 2 1/2 hours+ 1 1/2 hours Anchorage - Whittier- without excessive tunnel wait, by rail 4 hours Talkeetna (after the 50 mile bus ride again) to Anchorage, rail Anchorage- Whittier 2+ hours.

[Marie-Claude]

Here's a link on the tunnel with a history and lots of pictures on how it was built. Pretty interesting!

[url="http://www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/index.htm"]http://www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/index.htm[/url]

Next up: 10/04 Star Princess Transatlantic;
Past: 05/04 Sun Princess Alaska; 05/03 Regal Princess Baltics Russia; 12/02 Constellation Celebrity Southern C; 10/01 Golden Princess Eastern C; 03/01 Sensation Carnival Western C; 04/00 Costa Romantica Western C

MC

[Treven]

Facinating information on the Whittier Tunnel.

'be a real student and take chances. live on the edge. teeter on the brink...skip on the tightrope. and if you fall, enjoy the wind on your smiling face.' -- paul lester

NCL Star - Hawaii (AtlantisEvents.com) 03.07.04
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Celebrity Infinity (AtlantisEvents.com) 08.21.05
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