An arctic vehicle is provided for the rapid transport of goods, machinery, and personnel over ice, snow and frozen ground surfaces.The vehicle is supported partially while at rest and/or under way by a cushion of air which is entrained by a system of seals. Seals along the sides terminate in runners for guiding and partially supporting the vehicles. A cutter system is deployed in front of each runner to form smooth running tracks or furrows over ice, snow, and frozen ground surfaces. A transverse cutter may be deployed in front of the forward transverse seal for removing major ice protrusions between the runners, to reduce seal leakage and wear, and improve ride characteristics. The cut tracks, in addition to providing smooth transit, engage the runners and side seals to prevent lateral shifting of the vehicle by the action of crosswinds and sideslopes.The vehicle may be self-propelled or towed. Through the use of the air cushion, frictional resistance to movement is substantially reduced, requiring correspondingly less motive power or towing force. Also the load of the vehicle is distributed over a larger area.The vehicle may be part of a train system pulling similar cars whose running friction is reduced by a common air bubble formed between longitudinal seals of the driving vehicle and drawn cars and end seals. In the alternative, the driving vehicle and each drawn car may be provided with an air pressure seal system to provide individually contained air bubbles.