2026 Christmas & holiday train guide

Christmas & holiday trains in California

Compare 11 reviewed holiday programs in California, including their boarding towns, departure announcements and ticket status.

Compare the departures ↓Explore Polar Express rides →

Niles Canyon Railway passenger coaches covered in Christmas lights at night — Niles Canyon’s Train of Lights during a test run in November 2017. Historical holiday photograph; this season’s decorations can differ. Display crop. Scott Capen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Sold out when checked 2026-10-26
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Start with the train tickets. Check the exact date and seating class before booking a hotel or planning a long drive. Reviewed schedules and sold-out notices help you compare; they do not promise remaining seats.

Choose a departure in California

The boarding location matters: holiday services can use a different station from a railway’s regular trains. Compare the stops below before choosing a ride.

Holiday train programs, boarding locations and schedule status in California
Holiday ride	Where to board	Schedule & tickets
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideCalifornia State Railroad Museum	Central Pacific Passenger Station, 930 Front Street, Sacramento, CA	Select departures November 13–December 21, 20262026 dates published
Holiday TrainCaltrain	San Jose Diridon, 65 Cahill Street, San Jose, CA 95110; announced route endpoint, boarding details pending	December 5, 20262026 dates published
Christmas TrainIrvine Park Railroad	Irvine Park Railroad train station, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869	November 27–December 23, 2026; booked boarding windows vary by dayTicket sale still ahead
Railroad Express Holiday EventLaws Railroad Museum and Historical Site	200 Silver Canyon Road, Bishop, CA 93514	December 12, 20262026 dates published
Train of Lights — NilesNiles Canyon Railway	Niles Station, 37029 Mission Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94536	Selected dates November 20–December 30, 2026; 4:30 p.m. Niles departuresSold out when checked 2026-10-26
Train of Lights — SunolNiles Canyon Railway	Sunol Station, 6 Kilkare Road, Sunol, CA 94586	Selected dates November 20–December 30, 2026; 7:30 p.m. Sunol departuresSold out when checked 2026-10-26
North Pole LimitedPacific Southwest Railway Museum	Campo Depot, 750 Depot Street, Campo, CA 91906	Fridays–Sundays November 27–December 20, 20262026 dates published
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideRAILTOWN 1897 State Historic Park	10501 Reservoir Road, Jamestown, CA 95327	Fridays–Sundays November 27–December 20, 20262026 dates published
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideSouthern California Railway Museum	2201 S. A Street, Perris, CA 92570	Select November and December 2026 dates; confirm performances with Rail Events2026 program listed — confirm departures
Santa, Trains & Candy CanesTimber Heritage Association Crew Speeder Rides	930 Vance Ave, Samoa, CA 95564	December 6, 20262026 dates published
Santa Starlight ExperienceWestern Railway Museum	5848 State Highway 12, Suisun City, CA 94585	Selected departures 2026-12-04–2026-12-182026 dates published

Explore all railways in California →

Your holiday departure

Compare rides in this state

Search rides or townsHoliday experienceRailway typeBooking and schedule status

11 rides match your filters · Showing 1–8

See these rides on a map

All 11 selected rides at 11 mapped locations, including results on the other pages. Shared depots list every selected program. Pins mark stations or event campuses; route references and inactive events are labeled in the pin details.

Illustrative stock photo: Grand Canyon Railway locomotive 237 decorated with a Christmas wreath — Illustrative stock · 2013 · display crop
Bill Morrow / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Sacramento, CA · Museum train

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

California State Railroad Museum

2026 dates published

Select departures November 13–December 21, 2026

Board in Old Sacramento for a holiday train with character performances, hot chocolate, a treat and Santa’s silver sleigh bell.

Ticket status and source check

The operator offers ticket purchases for the published 2026 season; no departure-specific seat inventory was checked.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Caltrain locomotive outlined in colorful Christmas lights at night — Historical · 2005 · display crop
snty - tact ( Talk ) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

San Jose, CA · Passenger railway

Holiday Train

Caltrain

2026 dates published

December 5, 2026

Caltrain announces a special passenger Holiday Train between San Jose Diridon and San Francisco, with holiday performances and activities.

Ticket status and source check

Caltrain confirms the December 5 event but says more information is to come. A ticket-sale opening and remaining seats are not established.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

Official updates →

Illustrative stock photo: Tweetsie Railroad locomotive No. 12 with Christmas lights and a wreath at the station — Illustrative stock · 2018 · display crop
ET&WNC12 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Orange, CA · Miniature railway

Christmas Train

Irvine Park Railroad

Ticket sale still ahead

November 27–December 23, 2026; booked boarding windows vary by day

Ride through Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa, then return through Christmas lights and the Tunnel of Lights. This is a separately ticketed holiday train.

Ticket status and source check

The November 2, 2026 at 10 a.m. sale opening is still ahead of the October 26 check. No seats are claimed.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Bishop, CA · Museum train

Railroad Express Holiday Event

Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site

2026 dates published

December 12, 2026

A December holiday railcar event at Laws Museum near Bishop, presented with the Bishop Chamber of Commerce.

Ticket status and source check

The official schedule lists the holiday event date; event-specific ticket sale status and remaining seats are not established.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Fremont, CA · Museum train

Train of Lights — Niles

Niles Canyon Railway

Sold out when checked 2026-10-26

Selected dates November 20–December 30, 2026; 4:30 p.m. Niles departures

Niles Canyon’s Train of Lights boards at Niles. The operator reported the 2026 season sold out in our October 12 review.

Ticket status and source check

Sold out when checked. The official 2026 Train of Lights page reports all tickets sold out, as checked October 26, 2026. No available seats are offered.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Niles Canyon Railway locomotive 713 decorated with a Christmas wreath — Historical · 2024 · display crop
mpetach / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Sunol, CA · Museum train

Train of Lights — Sunol

Niles Canyon Railway

Sold out when checked 2026-10-26

Selected dates November 20–December 30, 2026; 7:30 p.m. Sunol departures

Niles Canyon’s Train of Lights boards at Sunol. The operator reported the 2026 season sold out in our October 12 review.

Ticket status and source check

Sold out when checked. The official 2026 Train of Lights page reports all tickets sold out, as checked October 26, 2026. No available seats are offered.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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San Diego and Arizona coach 252 with Christmas lights glowing inside its windows — Historical · 2008 · display crop
Joe Osterloh (Blue Atom Photography) / Flickr · CC BY 2.0

Campo, CA · Museum train

North Pole Limited

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

2026 dates published

Fridays–Sundays November 27–December 20, 2026

The North Pole Limited holiday train departs Campo for a festive journey with Santa and onboard entertainment.

Ticket status and source check

The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Jamestown, CA · Museum train

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

RAILTOWN 1897 State Historic Park

2026 dates published

Fridays–Sundays November 27–December 20, 2026

Jamestown’s holiday train follows the Polar Express story and includes a silver sleigh bell from Santa.

Ticket status and source check

The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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How we check the holiday guide

Official operator pages support each source review. Licensed Polar Express status and actual rail operation are checked separately. A season window is not a daily timetable, and older fares are not current prices.

We are an independent planning guide. Optional affiliate travel offers appear separately from official train tickets, with a commission disclosure. Historical photographs are captioned with their date; they do not guarantee this season’s train or decorations.