New Hope Railroad Santa Trains (2026): Steam Train & North Pole Express

Published: August 31, 2026

Bucks County’s Christmas trains leave the 1891 New Hope station for Lahaska on the old Reading New Hope Branch. The New Hope Railroad sells two family products: Santa’s Steam Train Ride behind Cliffside 2-8-0 No. 40 when she is the advertised power, and Santa’s North Pole Express Train on the same ~60-minute round trip with cocoa, cookies, carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Fares are dynamic. Both are the railroad’s own Christmas trains, not licensed Polar Express events. Strasburg is the other Lancaster-to-Bucks holiday heavyweight.

The decorations aboard New Hope Railroad's North Pole Express

The festive Christmas decorations aboard New Hope Railroad's North Pole Express. New Hope Railroad photo.

About the New Hope Railroad

Public excursions have run here since 1966 over 16.7 miles of the former Reading New Hope Branch along the Delaware. Trains leave 32 West Bridge Street. The Victorian passenger station and 1891 freight house sit in a town that already books out for weekends. Christmas is two named products on the same corridor, not a park overlay.

2026 Santa Trains — At a Glance

Item	Detail
Products	Santa’s Steam Train Ride; Santa’s North Pole Express Train
Location	New Hope Train Station, 32 W. Bridge St., New Hope, PA 18938
2026 dates	Confirm the live calendars. Typical season is mid-November through late December (Christmas Eve is a premium band when offered)
Duration	About 60 minutes round trip, New Hope–Lahaska
Power	Steam Train: Baldwin 2-8-0 No. 40 when advertised. North Pole Express: diesel as scheduled. Confirm the listing; steam is not a blanket promise
Classes	Coach, First, Platinum, private rooms, private caboose (as offered per product)
Typical fares	Dynamic: value / off-peak / peak / Christmas Eve. The fare in the cart is the fare. Do not expect a single published from-price
Official site	Santa’s Steam Train · North Pole Express · (215) 862-2332

Schedules and fares change. Confirm on New Hope Railroad before booking. Information compiled August 30, 2026. These are Christmas trains—not licensed THE POLAR EXPRESS™ events.

What the Ride Is Like

Both products board at New Hope, run to Lahaska, and come home in about an hour. Conductor calls all aboard. Carolers work the aisles. Cocoa and a cookie are the onboard treat (this is not a meal train). Santa and Mrs. Claus visit. Pajamas are encouraged. The station and freight-house shops stay open before and after. Photo packages are extra.

The difference that matters: if you want the 1925 Baldwin 2-8-0, book Santa’s Steam Train Ride and read the ticket for power. Santa’s North Pole Express is the same corridor with the North Pole branding and the class mix listed on that page. Do not treat the names as Polar Express licenses. They are New Hope product titles.

Classes of Service & Onboard

Coach / First / Platinum / private rooms / caboose: Mix depends on the product and date
Board 15–30 minutes after the time printed on some tickets—read the FAQ for that product; the steam page has told guests to queue after the listed hour
Buy online. Kiosks exist; inventory is not assured
Historic cars: ask about accessibility before you travel

Tickets & Practical Information

Booking: newhoperailroad.com. Peak weekends and Christmas Eve go first
Station: 32 West Bridge Street. New Hope parking is the bottleneck, not the train
Lodging: New Hope, Lambertville, Doylestown
Polar Express: Pennsylvania’s licensed Polar is not this railroad. See the Polar hub. Strasburg’s Santa’s Paradise Express is another Christmas product

Tips for the Best Experience

If steam is the reason you are coming, screenshot the locomotive note on the order
November value days, when listed, are the cheapest seats
Do not confuse “North Pole Express” here with the Warner Bros. franchise