What's on · Seasonal
Santa Express and Christmas trains on the Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Santa Express runs from Pickering on weekends from 28 November and daily from 22 to 24 December, with evening trains for adults
The Santa Express is an hour-long round trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between Pickering and Levisham. Santa visits every child on board, the elves lead songs and games, and each child takes home a gingerbread man and a festive book. Trains leave at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00 on weekends from 28 November and every day from 22 to 24 December.
The price rises through the season: 29.50 a person on 28 and 29 November, 34.50 on the early December weekends and 39.50 from 19 December. The 15:00 train on 28 November is a relaxed service with fewer passengers and softer sound and light.
For adults there are two evening trains. Tinsel Tipple, for ages 14 and over, comes with a Baileys or a soft drink and a mince pie. A Bloody Merry Christmas, for ages 16 and over, is an hour of ghost stories with Mad Alice. Pickering is about fifty minutes from Thirsk.
Dates still to come
- 28 to 29 November 2026Moors Railway: Santa ExpressDepartures at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00. 29.50 per person. The 15:00 on 28 November is a relaxed service
- 28 November 2026Moors Railway: Tinsel TippleEvening train Pickering to Levisham and back, 17:00 and 18:30. Ages 14 and over, 35 with a Baileys or soft drink and a mince pie
- 5 December 2026Moors Railway: A Bloody Merry ChristmasAn hour's ghost-story train with Mad Alice, Pickering to Levisham and back. Ages 16 and over, 35
- 5 to 6 December 2026Moors Railway: Santa ExpressDepartures at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00. 34.50 per person
- 12 to 13 December 2026Moors Railway: Santa ExpressDepartures at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00. 34.50 per person
- 12 December 2026Moors Railway: Tinsel TippleEvening train Pickering to Levisham and back, 17:00 and 18:30. Ages 14 and over, 35
- 19 December 2026Moors Railway: A Bloody Merry ChristmasAn hour's ghost-story train with Mad Alice, Pickering to Levisham and back. Ages 16 and over, 35
- 19 to 20 December 2026Moors Railway: Santa ExpressDepartures at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00. 39.50 per person
- 22 to 24 December 2026Moors Railway: Santa ExpressDepartures at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00. 39.50 per person
- 22 to 23 December 2026Moors Railway: Tinsel TippleEvening train Pickering to Levisham and back, 17:00 and 18:30. Ages 14 and over, 35
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