Last year's floods in southern Yukon won't stop the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad from running tourist trains through Carcross this summer, officials said Monday.

White Pass will soon begin repairing its rail tracks and the Carcross train station and warehouse, which were damaged during last summer's flooding in the territory's Southern Lakes area.

A White Pass train crosses the bridge over Bennett Lake's rising waters in Carcross, Yukon, in July 2007.
(Vic Istchenko/CBC)

Company vice-president Michael Brandt said crews are about to begin clearing snow off about 45 kilometres of rail track damaged by rising waters last year, resulting in the cancellation of service to Carcross last July.

"Frankly, until we see how the track thaws, we're not even sure of the full extent of it. But our guys are confident; we'll be operating," Brandt said from the company's Whitehorse office.

"They spent a lot of time and money at the end of last season, shoring up 28 miles of track, plus some immediate work on the bridge. And they'll hit it hard this spring, and it will be ready for service."

This summer's schedule calls for trains from Skagway, Alaska, to Carcross six days a week, Brandt said. Cruise lines and individual travellers are already booking seats on the route.

"Holland America's bookings are strong for this year. Other cruise lines have picked it up," he said. "Plus we are selling it to independent passengers, and Carcross is becoming the destination."

White Pass also has plans for a makeover at the Carcross station that will include restoring historic artifacts and setting up a heritage park, Brandt said.