Winter Park and Amtrak officials met in Denver Monday to discuss the return of the venerable Ski Train for three months next winter.

The Denver-owned resort revived the historic rail link for a weekend in March to celebrate its 75th anniversary, selling out two trains and stirring hopes that Amtrak, Winter Park and rail-owner Union Pacific could hammer out a deal for regular weekend service next season.

“There’s a lot to go over logistically,” Winter Park spokesman Steven Hurlbert said. “There’s a huge difference between running this for a weekend and running it for three months.”

The two Ski Train trips in March sold out quickly. About 900 people rode the train those two days. The train ran between Denver and Winter Park every ski season from 1940 to 2009, when then-owner Philip Anschutz closed the operation citing rising costs.

The city of Denver supports the Ski Train. U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner have joined the chorus supporting seasonal rail service between Denver and Winter Park. The hope is for two, maybe three trips a week in January, February and March next year.

Amtrak and the resort are preparing a proposal for Union Pacific, which owns the tracks between Denver and the ski area.

“We want to make sure we have all our ducks in a row before we approach them,” Hurlbert said.

Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374, jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasonblevins