VRE Santa Trains returning Dec. 10 after 2-year absence

The Virginia Railway Express has announced that its popular “Santa Trains” will return on Dec. 10 following a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 13 festive holiday-themed trains will depart from five VRE stations: Burke Centre, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Spotsylvania, and Woodbridge, VRE stated in a news release.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as their elves, will be on the trains visiting with families and listening to children’s Christmas wishes. They will also be handing out goodie bags. VRE said in a news release that the Santa Trains are a way to promote rail safety and Operation Lifesaver’s “Look, Listen and Live” campaign, according to VRE.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. Santa Train tickets can be bought online for $6 or in-person at select locations for $5. Each location will sell tickets only for the train station that corresponds to its location. According to the news release, online tickets generally sell out in less than five minutes.

VRE recommends creating an account at http://www.eventbrite.com/ before tickets go on sale to expedite the checkout process. A direct link to VRE’s Santa Trains Eventbrite page and details about vendor locations and purchasing tickets can be found at www.vre.org.

Santa Train rides are 75 minutes long and are scheduled at various times throughout the day, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The latest train ride each day is at 3:30 p.m.