In a post-apocalyptic future, the world has been plunged into an ice age due to a failed climate experiment. The remnants of humanity survive on a perpetually moving train that circles the globe, segregated by a rigid class system. At the rear of the train, the impoverished and oppressed tail section inhabitants live in squalor, while the elite passengers at the front enjoy luxury and control. Tensions reach a breaking point as Curtis, a reluctant leader from the tail section, organizes his fellow passengers for a revolt against the draconian rule of Minister Mason and the mysterious creator of the train, Wilford.

The rebels face numerous, increasingly perilous challenges as they fight their way forward through the train’s various cars, each representing different aspects of human civilization and inequality. Along their journey, they uncover unsettling truths about their situation and the nature of their existence on the train. The relentless struggle to seize control soon leads Curtis to a fateful confrontation that will determine the future of all who live on the train, forcing him to confront not only the oppressive system but also his own moral compass.