Photo by Pi.1415926535, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Blackstone Valley Polar Express. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
About Blackstone Valley Polar Express
Experience a magical 90-minute train ride to the North Pole with storytelling, hot cocoa, and Santa. Perfect holiday fun for all ages at Blackstone Valley Train Station.
History
The Blackstone Valley Polar Express is a Christmas-season train themed on the movie The Polar Express that has run since 1999, operated by the Providence and Worcester Railroad each November and December and organized by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. Trains depart from Woonsocket station at Depot Square in downtown Woonsocket, Rhode Island — a depot the Providence and Worcester built in 1882 to replace an 1847 predecessor — and travel along the company's main line. The P&W is otherwise a freight railroad with no regularly scheduled passenger service, so this seasonal excursion is the rare chance to ride its rails; it also keeps the historic Woonsocket depot, which once housed the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor headquarters, in seasonal passenger use. The 90-minute round trip to the 'North Pole' features storytelling, hot cocoa, and a visit from Santa.
Nearby
Woonsocket is Rhode Island's northernmost city, set on the Blackstone River just south of the Massachusetts line, about 43,000 people strong and steeped in textile-mill history powered by the river's falls. Around Depot Square you'll find the renovated 1882 station — a filming location for the movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale, commemorated by a statue of Hachiko out front — while the city is also home to the Museum of Work and Culture and the corporate headquarters of CVS Health.
Where to Stay
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Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Book tours & activities nearby
Pre-book guided tours and things to do around the area.
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More in Rhode Island
All train rides in Rhode Island →Train Types in Rhode Island
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