2026 Christmas & holiday train guide

Christmas & holiday trains in New York

Compare 4 reviewed holiday programs in New York, including their boarding towns, departure announcements and ticket status.

Compare the departures ↓Explore Polar Express rides →
Passengers at a table inside a Christmas-decorated Adirondack Polar Express coach
Inside Adirondack Railroad’s Polar Express coach at Utica on November 26, 2021. Historical holiday photograph; this season’s equipment, decorations and experience can differ. Display crop. MattCC716 / Flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0

2026 program listed — confirm departures

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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 New York

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 New York
Holiday rideWhere to boardSchedule & tickets
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideAdirondack RailroadUtica Union Station, 321 Main Street, Utica, NY 135012026 ticket-sale notice published; select performance dates in official booking2026 program listed — confirm departures
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideCatskill Mountain RailroadWestbrook Lane Station, 55 Kingston Plaza Road, Kingston, NY 12401Select departures November 13–December 30, 20262026 dates published
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideMedina Railroad Museum530 West Avenue, Medina, NY 141032026 program listed; confirm dates in the official booking calendar2026 program listed — confirm departures
Santa Train Rides to the North PoleRochester & Genesee Valley Railroad MuseumIndustry Station, 282 Rush Scottsville Road, Rush, NY 14543December 4–5 and 11–12, 2026; departures at 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 and 7:30 p.m.Sold out when checked 2026-10-26

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Your holiday departure

Compare rides in this state

4 rides match your filters

See these rides on a map

All 4 selected rides at 4 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.

Passengers at a table inside a Christmas-decorated Adirondack Polar Express coach
Historical · 2021 · display crop
MattCC716 / Flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0

Utica, NY · Heritage railroad

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

Adirondack Railroad

2026 program listed — confirm departures

2026 ticket-sale notice published; select performance dates in official booking

Adirondack Railroad’s Utica Polar Express includes a station opening show and a train journey with cocoa, cookies and Santa.

Ticket status and source check

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

Source reviewed 2026-10-12

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Catskill Mountain Railroad’s holiday shuttle with a Christmas wreath in Kingston
Historical · 2008 · display crop
Eehiv / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

Kingston, NY · Heritage railroad

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

Catskill Mountain Railroad

2026 dates published

Select departures November 13–December 30, 2026

A Kingston holiday train with hot chocolate, cookies, story reading, carols and 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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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

Medina, NY · Museum train

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

Medina Railroad Museum

2026 program listed — confirm departures

2026 program listed; confirm dates in the official booking calendar

Medina’s 2026 holiday train features the Polar Express story, cocoa, a treat and Santa’s bell.

Ticket status and source check

The operator offers 2026 bookings; no particular departure inventory was checked.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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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

Rush, NY · Museum train

Santa Train Rides to the North Pole

Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

Sold out when checked 2026-10-26

December 4–5 and 11–12, 2026; departures at 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Rochester’s museum runs Santa Train Rides to the North Pole on two December weekends.

Ticket status and source check

Sold out when checked. The official event title reports Sold Out as checked October 26, 2026. Follow official updates; no available seats are claimed.

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.