A coalition of tourist rail professionals, nonprofit organizations, and more than a dozen local wineries and breweries has come together to launch the Finger Lakes Rail Experience (FLX Rail Experience) a new heritage rail attraction debuting for the Summer 2025 season.
Launching over Fourth of July weekend and continuing every weekend through the end of August, the FLX Rail Experience will offer a blend of family-friendly excursions and adults-only wine tasting trains, all set against the scenic backdrop of New York’s celebrated Finger Lakes region. Tickets go on sale June 6, 2025, and a complete schedule will be available at flxrailexperience.com.
“We were honored to be approached by Finger Lakes Railway (FGLK), a respected local freight carrier, about establishing a new tourist rail operation in the region,” said Kevin W. Sweat, Excursion Manager for the FLX Rail Experience. “By collaborating with the community, we’re thrilled to prototype this experience for the summer season, with our sights set on expansion in the future.”
The host railroad, Finger Lakes Railway, is a key short line freight carrier serving six counties in the region. Historically, FGLK maintained a small fleet of passenger cars to support local nonprofit organizations and tourism initiatives. However, a shift in business priorities led to the sale of that fleet in December 2024. Despite this transition, FGLK’s leadership remained committed to fostering regional tourism and sought new ways to leverage its 167-mile network to continue supporting economic and cultural development across the Finger Lakes.
“The key success of our freight railroad has been ensuring that the farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses in our region receive reliable freight service, but we acknowledge how important tourist rail operations are to attracting visitors to the Finger Lakes region,” explained FGLK President Eric Betke. “When considering a new tourist rail strategic partner, we immediately turned to the expertise of FMW Solutions (“FMW”) to organize a unique experience in the region.”
FMW Solutions was approached by Finger Lakes Railway (“FGLK”) to develop a new tourist rail initiative. In response, FMW — through its operating division, FMW Rail Operations — has brought together a coalition of regional businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local stakeholders to help bring the FLX Rail Experience to life.
The FLX Rail Experience will operate with a fleet of five vintage passenger cars belonging to the United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS). These restored 1940s-era cars include several that also operate as part of URHS’s popular Hudson River Rail Excursions in New York City.
“Not only will the FLX Rail Experience introduce heritage rail to a new audience, but it will also support URHS’s efforts to expand our operational fleet of historic railroad cars,” said URHS Executive Director Kevin Phalon. “We’re proud to be working with partners who understand the value of tourism and support our nonprofit mission of preservation and education.”
The FLX Rail Experience will operate a five-car train with deluxe coach, premium, and first-class accommodations. This excursion rail service will include: family trains, wine trains, evening club trains, and brunch trains, with ticket prices starting at $30 per person. The train trips will range in length from one-hour to two-and-a-half hours roundtrip, and they will depart from Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls on various weekends across the ten-week-long season.
Supporting the FLX Rail Experience is the Seneca Lakes Wine Trail, more than a dozen local wineries and breweries, and multiple local not-for-profit organizations. Also supporting the organization is Operation Toy Train, which is providing a power baggage car to power the train.
-via Press Release