Frequently Asked Questions

The main depot is located at 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, TX 75801 – this is the departure location.  We have a second depot is located at 535 Park Road 76, Rusk, TX 75785 – this is where most of our excursions travel to for the layover.

TRAINS WILL LEAVE AT SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME AND CANNOT WAIT ON LATE ARRIVALS.  Passengers should arrive at the departure depot at least 45 (Forty-five) minutes prior to scheduled departure time of their ticketed train. 

Our excursions are round-round trip and travel to our Rusk Depot and back.  There may be exceptions on specialty trains such as THE POLAR EXPRESS^TM.  It is always advised to make sure you read and understand the description of the excursion you plan to book.  

Yes, all excursions (with the exception of THE POLAR EXPRESS) will deboard the train at our Rusk Depot.  Our Piney Woods Express Excursion will spend approximately 1 hour and fifteen minutes onsite at the Rusk Depot where you are free to eat lunch, roam the grounds or visit our historical depot and gift shop. The time spent at the Rusk Depot may vary with specialty trains.   It is always encouraged that you read and understand the full description of the excursion you select to avoid any confusion about your trip. 

You can make a reservation online or by calling our reservations desk directly at 855-632-7729.  You will receive an email with ticket confirmation upon successfully making your reservation. Ticket confirmation must be presented at the departure Rail Depot. Electronic ticket confirmation is acceptable.  Your confirmation is NOT your boarding pass

Our cancellation / Refund and Missed Train Policies are specific to our excursions. An outline of the policies are as follows: 

• Piney Woods Express Excursion tickets are fully refundable with a 72 (Seventy-two) hour notice. Refund request made within 72 (Seventy-two) hours of the departure date will be charged a $15.00 cancellation fee per ticket. All pre-paid lunches will be fully refunded regardless of 72 (Seventy-two) hour notice. Texas State Railroad will work, in good faith, with our customers regarding extenuating circumstances.  Missed trains for our “Piney Woods Express Excursion” may be rescheduled within 14 (Fourteen) days and the ticket credit must be used prior to December 31^st in the same calendar year of the original reservation.  If tickets are not rescheduled within 14 (Fourteen) days of the missed train, ticket credit will be forfeited. Rescheduled excursions may be subject to a rescheduling fee. Texas State Railroad will work, in good faith, with our customers regarding extenuating circumstances. Texas State Railroad can be contacted at 1-855-632-7729.
• Lunch, Evening and Specialty Excursion (any excursions other than our “Piney Woods Express Excursion”) tickets are fully refundable with a 14 (Fourteen) day notice. Cancellation and refund request made within 14 (Fourteen) days of the departure date will NOT be refunded.  Missed trains for any Lunch, Evening or Specialty Excursions may be rescheduled within 14 (Fourteen) days and the ticket credit must be used prior to December 31^st in the same calendar year of the original reservation. If tickets are not rescheduled within 14 (Fourteen) days of the missed train, ticket credit will be forfeited.  Rescheduled excursions may be subject to a rescheduling fee. Texas State Railroad will work, in good faith, with our customers regarding extenuating circumstances. Texas State Railroad can be contacted at 1-855-632-7729.
• THE POLAR EXPRESS^TM TRAIN RIDE tickets may be cancelled 30 (Thirty) days before the departure date; however, a cancellation fee of $20 per ticket will be assessed and the balance of the purchase will be refunded.  Cancellations made within 30 (Thirty) days of the departure date will NOT be refunded and the entire ticket purchase will be forfeited. 

  Due to the massive demand, missed trains for THE POLAR EXPRESS^TM TRAIN RIDE may be rescheduled subject to availability.   A rescheduling fee of $20 per ticket will be assessed.  Seating class of the original purchase cannot be guaranteed and refunds for the difference in seating class will NOT be issued. Texas State Railroad can be contacted at 1-855-632-7729.

You will need to present a valid photo ID of the reservation holder along with the credit card used to book the reservation.  

You will pick up your boarding passes at the departure Rail Depot.   Boarding passes are NOT issued electronically.  BOARDING PASSES MUST BE PICKED UP 15 (Fifteen) MINUTES PRIOR TO SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME, any parties attempting to pick up boarding passes less than 15 (Fifteen) minutes prior to scheduled departure time will be scheduled for a new departure time and/or date at Texas State Railroad’s discretion and upon availability. A rescheduling fee may be applicable. 

The Boarding Platform CLOSES 10 (Ten) MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. No guests will be allowed onto the boarding platform after that time.

Reservations are highly recommended as many excursions sell out in advance. Walk-In Ticket Purchases are permitted upon availability. If purchasing a Walk-In Ticket, all parties will be required to read, understand and sign Texas State Railroad Terms of Service and Condition of Sale Agreement and Consent / Indemnity waiver prior to the ticket purchase transaction and boarding passes being issued.  

Every car class has a different seating configuration.   The majority have accommodations for four ticketed passengers to each table.  Parties of two may be seated with another party of two in these train cars.  If you have an odd number of guests in your party they may be seated with another party however, they will be seated in the same area as your party as long as they are booked on the same reservation.  

Yes! The individual reservations must be booked in the same class of seating.  These reservations can be booked separately online, but someone MUST call our reservations desk at 855-632-7729 to confirm you would like to sit together in the same car so our agent can manually tie your reservations together for seating purposes.  We require that this request be made 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of your reservation. 

Yes.  Every individual over the age of 18 must sign a release form. In the event of minors, the legal guardian must sign for the minor.  

Not all cars on this historic train ride are climate-controlled.  Please review the seating class options on your selected excursion. You can also contact our reservation desk directly and one of our agents will gladly assist with any information.  

Yes.

Smoking is prohibited onboard any Excursion Train (this includes e-cigarettes, vapes and/or other similar devices).

Outside food and drink are prohibited on the Excursion Train. We do have a concession car available to our passengers on the “Piney Woods Express Excursion.”

Yes.  We do have a concession car available that offers a variety of non-alcoholic beverages as well as beer, wine and premium liquor service.   Snack foods such as candy bars, ice cream and popcorn are also available for purchase on the concession car.   Access to the concession car is available for all guests.   Some seating classes offer complimentary appetizers and a car attendant that will serve you directly at your seat.   You can review the seating classes on your selected excursion to see amenities offered in each seating class.  Anyone consuming alcohol aboard Texas State Railroad must be 21 yrs. or older

Our regular season typically begins in March of each calendar year.  Please see our excursion calendar. Because of special, incidental or consequential situations that may be out of our control, Texas State Railroad reserves the right to adjust our operation between the date of your booking and the day of departure. These changes could include (but not be limited to):

• Locomotive power for the day
• Passenger car assignments
• Layover and/or mealtime during the four-hour ride
• Departure and/or arrival times

Firearms are not allowed on the Texas State Railroad grounds or onboard any train.  

Pets are prohibited on all excursions. Service Animals, as defined by the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II and Title III, are allowed on excursions. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT or “COMFORT” animals do NOT have rights under the ADA and will not be permitted on excursions. Service Animals with rights under the ADA are permitted on all coaches.

Yes.  In the event of rain and you are booked in an “Open Air” coach, the Texas State Railroad will make every effort to reseat you inside based on seating availability.   There, however, is no guarantee of being reseated inside.  Refunds will not be issued due to rain.   

Our Piney Woods Express Excursion Trains (excluding special event trains) are approximately four hours, round-trip. You are on the train to the destination depot for approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.  A one hour 20-minute lunch time is allotted at the depot and then approximately 1 hour 20-minute return trip.  Please see the train schedule for Specialty Excursions.  

Texas State Railroad does offer a specific coach that is ADA Compliant. Reservations for the ADA Compliant coach MUST be made through our reservations desk by calling 855-632-7729. Walkers and wheelchairs will be permitted on the ADA compliant car, however; power mobility scooters ARE NOT permitted. Walkers, wheelchairs or powered mobility scooters WILL NOT be permitted on coaches that are not ADA compliant under any circumstances. Passengers who utilize a cane for stability purposes may sit in non-ADA Compliant Railcars however, they MUST be able to independently walk up/down the stairs as well as to their seats. Please contact our reservations desk for further detail at 855-632-7729 from 8am-5pm, Mon – Sun.

Due to the space constraints on the historic rail coaches, strollers, baby carriages, coolers, picnic baskets and any other items that are sizeable and cannot be secured properly are prohibited on the train.  Throw style blankets and small cushions for “Open Air” seating are permitted.  If you have a question on specific items, please contact our reservations desk at 855-632-7729 from 8am-5pm, Mon – Sun for confirmation.

The Mail Car Café is located at the Rusk depot. Lunch is available for purchase during the lunch stop on our Piney Woods Express Excursions.   Lunch can be pre-ordered when making your reservations or you can also purchase on site.  

No. Infants or lap riders (under 2 years old) must be held in your lap or a body carrier. 

Yes.   Please contact our reservations desk directly at 855-632-7729 for information and pricing. 

Your credit card will be charged for the full amount within 24 hours of your booking.  Upon a successful transaction you will receive confirmation via email with your reservations number and details of your excursion.   For group reservations and/ or tour companies, you will need to contact our reservations desk at 855-632-7729 and speak directly with a reservation agent.