New York Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

Last revised: September 5, 2026

New York’s Christmas trains are Santa and North Pole products that are not licensed Polar Express: the Arcade & Attica North Pole Express, the Adirondack Railroad’s Christmas Train and Thendara Santa Train, and Delaware & Ulster’s Santa’s Silver Sleigh. Licensed Polar Express in the state is Medina, North Fork Trolley in Calverton, the Adirondack Polar from Utica Union Station, and Catskill Mountain Railroad in Kingston. Those four stay on the New York Polar page.

Delaware & Ulster's "Santa’s Silver Sleigh" rides along the old New York Central through the beautiful Catskill Mountains. Delaware & Ulster photo.

On this page: At a glance · Christmas hosts · Planning tips

New York Christmas trains at a glance

Host	City	2026 product	Book
Arcade & Attica Railroad	Arcade	North Pole Express. Own branding, not Polar. Typically weekends mid-November through December, ~2.5 hours. Confirm 2026 grid	Railroad site
Adirondack Railroad	Utica / Thendara	Christmas Train Nov. 27–28 from Utica (~11.5 hours with Old Forge layover). Santa Train from Thendara, dates TBA, ~90 min. Neither is Polar	Railroad site
Delaware & Ulster Railroad	Arkville	Santa’s Silver Sleigh, ~1 hour. From $25 listed. Confirm 2026 dates	Railroad site
Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley	Milford / Cooperstown	Santa Claus Express / North Pole Express in prior years. Confirm 2026 calendar before you drive	Railroad site

Schedules and fares change. Confirm on each railroad before you book. Information compiled September 3, 2026. These are Christmas trains—not licensed THE POLAR EXPRESS™ events.

Christmas hosts

Arcade & Attica Railroad

(Arcade): Western New York short line that still hauls freight and runs public trips on the remaining Arcade–North Java piece of a 1917 agricultural road. The holiday product is the railroad’s own North Pole Express—pajamas, cocoa, cookies, Santa. It is not the licensed Polar show. Some consists use open-air cars; dress for that if the 2026 listing says so.

2026: Confirm the FareHarbor grid at arcadeandatticarr.com. Prior seasons ran most weekends from mid-November through December, about 2.5 hours.

Adirondack Railroad

(Utica and Thendara): Two Christmas products that the railroad itself labels not Polar Express. The Adirondack Christmas Train leaves Utica Union Station on November 27 and 28 for a long day to Old Forge’s Christmas on Main Street (coach from $55 / $40; Diamond Class from $150). The Santa Train is the short Thendara–Otter Lake ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus (~90 minutes; adults from $22 when dated). Licensed Polar from the same Utica station is a different ticket—see the Polar hub.

2026: Christmas Train November 27–28, 10:00 a.m. Santa Train dates still TBA as of early September. adirondackrr.com.

Delaware & Ulster Railroad

(Arkville): Catskill Mountain tourist line on the old Ulster & Delaware. Santa’s Silver Sleigh is a one-hour family Christmas ride, listed from $25. Not Polar.

2026: Confirm dates at durr.org.

Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad

(Milford / Cooperstown): Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society on the old Cooperstown branch. Prior holidays used a Santa Claus Express and a North Pole Express from the Milford depot. Treat 2026 as unconfirmed until the calendar posts.

2026: Check the operator site before you plan a Cooperstown weekend around a train.

Planning tips

If you want licensed Polar Express, book Medina, Calverton, Utica Polar, or Kingston (Catskill Mountain)—not Arcade & Attica’s North Pole Express.
Catskill Mountain Railroad is Polar again in 2026 (November 13–December 30). Do not treat it as a Santa train.
The Utica Christmas Train is an all-day Old Forge outing. The Thendara Santa Train is the short one.
Western New York November weekends are cold. Open-air cars on the Arcade & Attica are not a parlor.