855-632-7729

All POLAR EXPRESS™ train rides depart from Texas State Railroad’s Palestine depot located at 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, TX 75801

Tickets purchased for First Class, Dome, and Presidential are sold in even numbers for the comfort of our guests. Parties not divisible by 4 will be assigned a table across the aisle or front to back and will share a table with a non-related guest.

Tickets purchased for Coach are sold in odd numbers. Odd numbers are subject to have tickets assigned across the aisle or front to back and will share a bench seat with a member of a non-related guest. We recommend purchasing in even numbers to avoid uncomfortable seating assignments.  

To ensure that multiple family members or groups are seated together, the reservation should be secured by one person under one confirmation number.  If reservations are made separately, there is no guarantee of sitting in the same area.

If separate reservations are made, a link request must be made by calling 1-855-632-7729 no later than 72 hours prior to trip date. You will need to provide a confirmation number and name on the reservation of the person you are requesting to be linked to.  Links are not guaranteed inside the 72-hour window and requests for links will not be accepted on the day of the trip either by phone or in person at the ticket office, as all seating assignments are final.

All tickets include train ride, hot chocolate, and cookies.  First-class, Dome and Presidential-class passengers receive a complimentary keepsake THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride mug.

Please check-in at least 45 minutes prior to ticketed departure time. Please note, tickets are non-refundable. Missed trains will not be refunded.

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 $20 rescheduling fee will be applied.

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

Tickets are picked up at the ticket window on the day of departure. (We do not mail tickets in advance.)

CONFIRMATIONS: Please note, when making your reservation you are required to “acknowledge” the understanding that you are riding THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at Texas State Railroad in Palestine, TX.

You will receive a confirmation email from Texas State Railroad [reservations@fulgen.com] after your purchase. We recommend checking your spam folder if you do not receive this email in your inbox.

The round-trip train ride is approximately 60 minutes long.

We cannot ensure that the hot chocolate or cookies presented on the train do not contain ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction.  Please call a representative at 855-632-7729 to inquire about food allergy allowances. An ingredient list of hot chocolate and cookies will be present on every coach. 

The train only can accommodate a limited number of wheelchair patrons per each train departure.  Please call a representative at 855-632-7729 to book your tickets for the entire party with a wheelchair passenger.

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.

Texas State Railroad does offer a specific coach that is ADA Compliant. Service Animals are permitted on non-ADA Compliant coaches, as long as the passenger does not require ambulatory assistance. Reservations for the ADA Compliant coaches MUST be made through our reservations desk by calling 855-632-7729. Walkers, Wheelchairs, and other ambulatory assistance equipment, with the exception of motorized wheelchairs or scooters, will be permitted on the ADA equipped car. This equipment WILL NOT be permitted on coaches that are not ADA compliant due to the space constraints and the inability to secure such equipment. Coaches that are not ADA equipped are NOT accessible by passengers who require ambulatory assistance as no modifications have been made to Non-ADA Compliant Railcars. Passengers MUST be able to walk independently to their seats. Please contact our reservations desk for further detail at 855-632-7729 from 8am-5pm, Mon – Sun.

No. Only Hot Cocoa and cookies will be served on the train.  There will be concessions on the grounds at The Palestine Rail Depot.  No alcoholic beverages are served at this event. 

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ 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™ 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.