Polar Express train ride will return to Yorkshire Dales attraction Wensleydale Railway this festive season with over 50,000 people expected to attend

Following a popular run last year, PNP Events and Wensleydale Railway will be hosting another Polar Express Train Ride at the railway for the 2024 festive season.

Families and Christmas enthusiasts can climb onboard the magical journey that brings Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved holiday classic to life.

There are more than 50,000 people predicted to attend the event this year across six weeks and will be running from Saturday, November 16 to Monday, December 23, 2024.

Highlights include: the conductor punching each passenger’s golden ticket, hot chocolate and a delicious cookie served by dancing chefs, passengers reading along with The Polar Express book and a personal visit from Santa Claus, who presents each guest with the first gift of Christmas - a special sleigh bell.

Marketing officer at Wensleydale Railway said: “I'm always struck by just [how] huge of an operation it is in terms of recruiting the actors and actresses, and auditions, choreography, sound lighting. It's a huge theatrical event, and they always do it so well. 

“We're now into the 5th year of hosting it as well, things go so much more smoothly when you've had that experience and it's always pretty much consistently the same team at the events company.

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“It's amazing, actually, that the film itself has been out for 20 years. I know that we get people travelling from all around the country. we've had people down from Scotland and seen people [visiting] from down south.”

The festive attraction begins when the passengers board the train, where they will be greeted by a lively cast of actors who recreate iconic scenes from the 2004 film.

Setto the enchanting motion picture soundtrack, riders will relive the magic of the story as they travel towards the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.

There are many actors that participate in the event.

“It’s really immersive,” Mr Keegan said.

“The actors and actresses give it a hundred per cent. They're very professional and they just give it everything, they get into character, singing, dancing, the choreography. It’s a moving theatre.

“But if you look at the faces of the adults from [when they] turn up and while they experience [the event], you can see they love it. It's a really nice way to end the year from a business perspective, and just from our customers’ [perspective].”

You can book tickets on the Yorkshire Dales The Polar Express Ride website and early booking is encouraged as dates are expected to sell out following the popularity of last year’s event.

Guests will also be treated to an onboard entertainment led by characters from the film. Families are encouraged to wear their pyjamas for the ride, just like the children in the story.

The journey provides keepsakes such as a sleigh bell and a souvenir golden ticket and ticket prices start at £38.90 per person with various fare options depending on the date and time.