Families welcomed aboard The Polar Express for festive journey

Children and families have been welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole for a festive ride courtesy of The Polar Express.

Brechin Caledonian Railway in Angus is running the event across the December weekends and a special guest has also been making an appearance.

With hot chocolates, sweet treats, and those all important golden tickets to hand, families can sit back, relax and enjoy a theatrical re-creation of the 2004 Christmas movie.

And, with less than three weeks to go until the big day, Santa Claus himself will make an appearance to find out who has been naughty or nice, while handing out silver bells from his sleigh.

Chloe Christie, the event’s chief choreographer. said: “I think The Polar Express is one of those traditional movies that everyone just enjoys and being able to see the chefs dancing in the movies and then coming on to the train itself and seeing us dancing as chefs, It just makes them enjoy it and it feels like it’s really coming to life”.

Passengers will follow the story of a young boy who embarks on a magical Christmas Eve adventure to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express.

During the trip the boy learns about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

It’s just one way Caledonian Railway is welcoming visitors back after struggling through the cornavirus pandemic.

Andy Pegg, said: “The past 18 months for us has been quite a difficult time, it has been very challenging trying to balance the books while also having no income.

“We were very lucky to have a lot of Covid funding, but now things are starting to go back to normal, we are looking forward to reopening again properly next year, and we’re very happy to have been able to run our Christmas trains this year for the first time in two years.”