The two-day Rockies to the Red Rocks route will journey from Denver to Moab, Utah, with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

A 10-week preview season featuring 40 departures will run from 15 August 2021 to 23 October 2021.

The route will sit alongside the operator’s three other rail routes in western Canada, operating between Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

Rocky Mountaineer said it would work with local tourism organisations, hotels and tour operators to curate custom packages featuring additional tours, activities and stays in Denver and Moab.

Founder Peter Armstrong said the route would bring Rocky Mountaineer back to the region where "train travel history" began, adding he felt the route would prove hugely popular owing to its "magnificent scenery, national parks and vast opportunities to explore".

"The work to find a new route has been under way for several years as we needed to find a special location with many of the same features we have in Western Canada – incredible scenery, iconic destinations, and the option for an all daytime, multi-day journey best experienced by train," Armstrong added.

Steve Sammut, Rocky Mountaineer president and chief executive, said that while the Covid pandemic had had a "devastating impact" on travel, and acknowledged there was "continued uncertainty" about when tourism would recover, it was his belief travellers would be eager to explore the region come next August.

The two-day journeys, which include one night’s hotel accommodation in Glenwood Springs, will lead in from US $1,250pp (£950pp), plus tax, and can be secured via a refundable US $25 (£20) deposit.

Sarah Revell, Rocky Mountaineer business development director EMEA, confirmed on Facebook agent webinars on the new route would follow soon.