Holiday trains & ‘Polar Express Train Rides’ (2024) - Trains (2024)

By Nastassia Putz | May 23, 2024

Spreading holiday cheer along the rails

See Also
The POLAR EXPRESS is coming to the Bellarine Railway this WINTER!Disfrute de un mágico viaje en tren Polar Express a bordo del ferrocarril Great Smoky Mountains en Carolina del Norte

Holiday trains & Polar Express Train Rides (2024)

Holiday trains & Polar Express Train Rides (2024): It’s never too early to start planning for a magical train ride with family and friends — especially when tickets go on sale during the spring and summer for some venues.

Purchasing a ticket for a holiday ride on a passenger train is a wonderful treat for anyone. The youngsters — and the young at heart, especially — like to gather on a cold, wintry day for a comfy, cozy experience that sparks wonderment in the eyes of all whom truly believe.

Depending on what you’re looking for this 2024 season, there are many different types of holiday trains to choose from. Some where you can meet Santa, visit the “North Pole,” sip hot chocolate or wine in a beautifully decorated vintage passenger car, or, for one magical night, be fully immersed in the classic children’s book, Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Whatever your choice may be, here is a list of the 2023 Polar Express and holiday trains by location.

ALABAMA

ARIZONA

  • Grand Canyon (Williams), thetrain.com (Polar Express & Ultimate Polar Express Nov. 1 to Dec. 30 — on sale now)

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

  • Wilmington & Western (Wilmington), wwrr.com

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

ILLINOIS

  • Chicago Union Station (Chicago) chicagounionstation.com (Polar Express — TBD)
  • Fox River Trolley Museum (South Elgin), foxtrolley.org (Polar Express — on sale June 1, 2024)
  • Illinois Railroad Museum (Union), irm.org
  • Monticello Railway Museum (Monticello), mrym.org (Polar Express — TBD, on sale Sept. 7, 2024)

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

  • Big South Fork Scenic Railway (Stearns), bsfsry.com (Polar Express Nov. 15 to Dec. 23 — on sale now)
  • Bluegrass Scenic Railroad (Versailles), bgrm.org
  • Kentucky Railway Museum (New Haven), kyrail.org
  • My Old Kentucky Dinner Train (Bardstown), kydinnertrain.com

MAINE

MARYLAND

  • B&O Railroad Museum (Baltimore), borail.org (Polar Express — on sale July 20, 2024) (Christmas in July on July 20/21, 2024)
  • Walkersville Southern (Walkersville), wsrr.org
  • Western Maryland Scenic (Cumberland), wmsr.com (Polar Express Dec. 8 to 17 — on sale in July)

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

  • Minnesota Streetcar Museum (Minneapolis), trolleyride.org
  • North Shore Scenic (Duluth), northshorescenicrailroad.org

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

  • Great Smoky Mountains (Bryson City), gsmr.com (Polar Express Nov. 7 to Dec. 31 — on sale now)
  • New Hope Valley Railway (New Hill), triangletrain.com
  • North Carolina Transportation Museum (Spencer), nctrans.org (Polar Express Nov. 8 to Dec. 23 — on sale June 6, 2024)

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • South Carolina Railroad Museum (Winnsboro), scrm.org

SOUTH DAKOTA

TENNESSEE

TEXAS

UTAH

VERMONT

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

MULTIPLE STATES

CANADA

Interested in learning a bit more about the Polar Express… check out this online article, “Behind the scenes of Polar Express,” or the more in-depth print version in Trains’ December 2023 issue!

Holiday trains & ‘Polar Express Train Rides’ (2024) - Trains (2024)

FAQs

Do you get off the train on the Polar Express? ›

You are on board the train for approximately 1 hour. Once your experience is over you can spend as much time in our gift shop as you wish but we tend to find guests spend around 15min – 30min here before you head back on the shuttle to the car park. Therefore we find guests are with us around 1:30-2 hours.

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What is included in the Polar Express train ride? ›

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Edinburgh

Meet the characters you know and love, The Conductor, the chefs serving hot, hot, hot, HOT CHOCOLATE, The hobo and of course the main man himself Santa Claus!

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Do you wear pajamas on the Polar Express? ›

What should my family wear? Families are encouraged to wear warm pajamas just like passengers from THE POLAR EXPRESS™ book and film.

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What to expect on the Polar Express train ride? ›

After watching a short live production taken from Chris Van Allsburg's book, The Polar Express, all guests are invited aboard the train. During THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, passengers are served hot cocoa and a cookie, delight in lively songs and dance, and enjoy a reading of the holiday classic, The Polar Express.

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Is there a toilet on The Polar Express? ›

A limited number of restrooms are available on board the train. Please alert a staff member if a member of your party needs to use the restroom, as they will need to be escorted to another car to access the nearest one. It is important to note that there are no wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the train.

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How long are you on The Polar Express train? ›

We ask guests to arrive at the check-in time shown on your e-ticket at the park and ride this gives us enough time to shuttle you to site and for you to grab a bite to eat if you wish. You are on board the train for approximately 1 hour.

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Is Polar Express ride worth it? ›

Honestly, we had the best time and everyone was so friendly and in character and everything was executed so well. It was definitely a wonderful and festive way to kick off the holiday season. You could REALLY feel the magic of Christmas!

Continue Reading ›
What to wear to a Polar Express train ride? ›

Families are encouraged to wear warm pajamas just like passengers from book and film. Passengers may spend time on an unheated platform as they board and disembark from the train, so appropriate winter attire is also recommended.

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How much are tickets on The Polar Express? ›

TICKETS: £43.95 TO £57.95

If you call and book accessible tickets, you will be seated in the Premium Class section of THE POLAR EXPRESS ™, which will feature all the usual Premium Class benefits. The coach which is accessible has a widened doorway, and is accessed via a ramp for wheelchairs.

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Is Polar Express better at night or day? ›

Consider what time of day you travel. Younger kids may do better on earlier trains, but the last train ride of the evening is arguably the most atmospheric when it's darker outside, the train cars seem cozier, and you can see the holiday lights better.

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Do you get food on The Polar Express? ›

Food and Drink

We are able to accommodate most dietary requirements on the train. A sweet treat is available with no milk, gluten, egg, soya and nuts. Where requested hot chocolate will also be available that is dairy free. Please make yourself known to staff when you are on board the train.

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Do you get a bell on The Polar Express train ride? ›

Santa and his helpers board the train to greet passengers and each guest is given the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell.

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What do you get in first class on a Polar Express train ride? ›

First Class cars feature festive holiday decor, ample legroom, overstuffed reclining chairs in a 2-2 seating arrangement, and large windows.

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What to bring on The Polar Express? ›

Please be sure to bring umbrellas, ponchos, rain gear, and suitable shoes in case of inclement weather. How long is the Event? The train ride is approximately one hour. Please come approximately 45 minutes before your departure time to pick up tickets.

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What is the difference between standard and premium tickets on The Polar Express? ›

All ticket holders receive Hot Chocolate and Cookies. Coach seating will receive a single serving of Hot Chocolate and a Cookie. (Lap children are excluded) Premium Seating receives unlimited Hot Chocolate and Cookies and a souvenir ceramic mug for the current year. (Lap children are excluded.)

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Does the train move on The Polar Express? ›

Yes, the train does move.

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What happens on The Polar Express? ›

Set on Christmas Eve, it tells the story of a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas.

Read The Full Story ›
How long is The Polar Express train ride Chicago? ›

It is required that guests arrive approximately 40 minutes prior to their showtime. This allows time to navigate the station and check in at the Burlington Room in the Great Hall. Boarding will begin at the listed showtime. The train ride itself is one hour in length.

Get More Info ›

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