Steam trains and sleigh bells are once more coming together on Swanage Railway as the hugely popular Polar Express experience steams back for a second year.
After a wildly successful debut in 2023, a railway experience like no other has returned, taking excited passengers on a steam train adventure to find Santa at the North Pole (or should that be Norden Pole!), themed on the favourite festive film.
Swanage town mayor boards the first Polar Express train for 2024
Magical golden tickets
The first journey of the 2024 season left Swanage station on Friday 23rd November with VIP passengers including Swanage town mayor Tina Foster and a number of lucky local families who had been nominated by organisations and charities to receive the magical golden tickets needed to board the train.
Twenty years after the original film starring Tom Hanks was first released in cinemas in 2004, The Polar Express has become an integral part of the build up to Christmas for many families.
Now they can experience the charm and magic for themselves, becoming immersed in the story as songs and scenes from the movie are played out around them on the Swanage station platform and then in the carriages of a moving steam train.
Plenty of singing and dancing
The story tells of a girl and a boy who go on a Christmas adventure on board the Polar Express
Dressing gowns and Christmas pyjamas
Local actors, singers and dancers bring to life the story of a boy who is beginning to doubt the existence of Santa Claus – until a magical train known as the Polar Express stops outside his house and whisks him off on an adventure.
Passengers are encouraged to enter into the spirit of the story and board the heritage steam train in their dressing gowns and Christmas pyjamas for an hour long journey.
Tickets start at £39.95 and although passengers cannot pick their carriages or seats at the time of booking, reservation staff at Swanage Railway have been assigned to make sure that everyone who has booked together is seated together.
This year the carriages are all identical so each passenger gets much the same experience where ever they sit.
The Polar Express arrives at Swanage station
There’s 30 cast members
“West End show on a moving steam train”
Marie Gallop, show producer for Polar Productions, said:
“We are very excited to be back in Swanage, it’s a wonderful town and we are thrilled to return here with the Polar Express.
“We wanted to add some extra elements this year to make it more of a show and enhance what we delivered last year. We have included more production numbers with dancers on the platform, an extra scene so there is more drama going on and upped the overall production value.
“The best way to describe it is as a West End show on a moving steam train, which is very special in itself. Sometimes people don’t understand the concept and think they might be watching a movie, or just taking a train ride.
“But we offer big theatre productions which include a lot of interaction between the cast and the public. A lot of our performers have come back for a second year, they are all locals and we feel very fortunate that there is so much talent in Swanage!”
Show producer for Polar Productions Marie Gallop joins in the fun
The big man himself makes an appearance
“A wonderful, once a year thing”
Marie added:
“We have a cast of 30 overall, including kids who take on the hero boy and hero girl roles, and they have all been amazing. The children came into rehearsals for about three hours to learn a new dance routine and the next day they were fluent in it.
“Our conductor plays the role perfectly and we were really lucky to get the Big Man himself, Santa, who joins the train when it reaches the North Pole – though we have heard that locals now refer to it as the Norden Pole!
“We were overwhelmed with so many positive reviews from those that came to the event last year and we look forward to welcoming back returning customers as well as sharing the experience with new passengers in 2024.
“We know that money is tight for many, but we feel that immersive experiences like these are a wonderful, once a year thing to do for all the family that will make memories and provide an unforgettable experience.”
The conductor takes a starring role
Cookies and the festive story delight the children
Hot chocolate and cookies
Passengers are encouraged to turn up in plenty of time for their journey, as the experience begins on the platform with drama, song and dance before the train itself arrives at the station, manned by costumed staff.
Once aboard the Polar Express, characters including smart stewards and dancing chefs interact with passengers, serve hot chocolate and cookies and perform songs from the movie, as well as leading everyone in Christmas songs.
Norden station has been transformed into a winter wonderland and not only are there very lively elves waiting to greet the train, but a very special guest – Santa – comes on board and chats to every child on the journey back to Swanage.
Passengers also receive the same gift as the boy in the film – a silver sleigh bell from Santa’s sleigh, and as the big man himself says:
“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart, as long as you believe!”
Extra trains have been scheduled through December 2024 to make sure that there is enough ticket availability for demand.
Just believe!
Further information
- Book your tickets on the Swanage Railway website
Watch the video
More photos
A star spangled evening
The classic story
Swanage town mayor Tina Foster and her husband Les Parkinson sparkle for the occasion
All aboard the Polar Express!
The boy questions whether Santa exists…
The girl joins in the adventure to the North Pole
The Polar Express lights up Swanage for a second year
Bringing colour to the town at Christmas
