How Much Do Polar Express Train Ride Tickets Cost?
Tickets for The Polar Express Train Ride are $24 for adults, $16 for children and youths ages 2-17. Infants under 2 ride free but ONLY if they do not occupy a seat.

What Does My “Polar Express” Ticket Include?
Each ticket includes a Polar Express Train Ride, admission to the Central Pacific Passenger Station (where photos with Santa and children’s activities will be available), and complimentary admission to the California State Railroad Museum the day of your visit or any other day before January 1, 2009 (the Museum’s regular hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day; these hours of operation will be in effect during The Polar Express Train Ride event).

How Long is the Train Ride?
Each Polar Express Train Ride will last approximately one hour.

How Can I Confirm My Train Ride Date and Time?
Your Polar Express Train Ride event tickets are printed and punched with the date of your visit, and they show the exact departure time of your Polar Express Train Ride. Please keep your tickets in a safe place; they are not refundable or exchangeable, and we are not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. The event will take place rain or shine. Your ticket stub(s) must remain intact to ride the Polar Express.

Don’t Miss Your Train!
Check-in for The Polar Express Train Ride takes place at the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station in Old Sacramento, located near the main entrance of the California State Railroad Museum (see enclosed map). Departure times for your ride on the Polar Express are exact—missed train rides cannot be taken later. YOU WILL NEED A BOARDING PASS—these are given out starting approximately 45 minutes prior to your train’s departure time, at the Boarding Pass Kiosk in the Passenger Station. Each ticket stub will be exchanged for a boarding pass. (You’ll keep the actual ticket, which will be punched by the Conductor during your trip.)

You must have your Boarding Pass no less than five minutes prior to departure time, or you may be denied seating. Boarding passes are for a specific coach on the train. Want to ride in the same coach with your family and friends? Designate a member of your group to present ALL your tickets together at the Boarding Pass Kiosk, and our friendly crews will do their best to seat you together. (Subject to seating availability; those in line early get the best seats!)

Can We Wear Pajamas?
Of course—that’s part of the fun! Please remember, however, to dress warmly enough to walk comfortably to and from your car, and please, make sure that everyone in your party is wearing appropriate footwear. You will be traversing streets, packed granite soil, and boardwalks to reach the event’s starting point—the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station in Old Sacramento.

Where Can We Park our Baby Stroller?
Strollers and baby carriers are not allowed aboard The Polar Express Train Ride, due to narrow aisles aboard the train and the need for crews to freely move about during the trip. Stroller parking will be available just prior to boarding of your train. A convenient location will be designated for this purpose, and guarded while your train is journeying to the North Pole!

Will Food Be Available at this Event?
Food will not be available at the actual event site. However, immediately adjacent to the event are a variety of restaurants throughout the Old Sacramento Historic District, catering to every kind of clientele. Visitwww.oldsacramento.com for more details.

Weather Conditions
Winter wind, rain or other adverse conditions are possible. Please check weather conditions prior to your visit, and dress accordingly. The Polar Express Train Ride will operate as scheduled, regardless of weather. Most event activities are indoors or under cover. All seating aboard trains is indoors; no open-air cars will be included in the train.

Getting to Old Sacramento
By Auto: Exit Interstate 5 in Downtown Sacramento at “J” Street, and follow the overhead signs to Old Sacramento (J Street to 5th, left onto 5th, left onto “I”, straight ahead to Old Sacramento). Remember: If you have reserved a Thursday or Friday departure of The Polar Express, please allow sufficient time to reach Old Sacramento regardless of rush hour travel conditions. By Amtrak: the Sacramento train depot is just two blocks from Old Sacramento and the Museum. Amtrak’s Capitols offer frequent service from the Bay Area; San Joaquins from Fresno/Modesto. For routes, fares, and reservations call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visitwww.amtrak.com.

Old Sacramento Parking
On-street metered parking throughout Old Sacramento is time-limited to 90 minutes or less. Therefore, we recommend parking in one of the City of Sacramento’s Downtown/Old Sacramento public parking lots. The nearest and most reasonably priced one is located on “I” Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, underneath Interstate 5 in Old Sacramento. An online map of City Parking Garages in the Downtown/Old Sacramento area may be accessed at www.downtownsac.org by clicking on "map."

Local Public Transportation
Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum, and all of the City of Sacramento are served by Sacramento Regional Transit busses and Light Rail lines. Light Rail trains travel to and from the Sacramento train depot, just two blocks from Old Sacramento and the Railroad Museum. For details, call Regional Transit at (916) 321-2877 or visitwww.sacrt.com.

Restrooms and Diaper-Changing Facilities
These will be available throughout The Polar Express Train Ride event, but not aboard trains.

Official Merchandise
This Polar Express Train Ride event will feature a variety of themed merchandise. Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted. An extensive selection of railroad-related merchandise is also available from the California State Railroad Museum Store, along with souvenirs, books, videos, posters and gifts. The Museum Store will operate its regular hours of 10:00 am to 5:00 pm during The Polar Express Train Ride event (closing time each evening during the event will be extended until 9 p.m. at the Polar Express Store in the Central Pacific Passenger Station) To order before or after your visit, call (800) 417-7245 or visit the Store online at this Website.

Lodging & Tourism Information
The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau can recommend a number of hotels and attractions in the area, or the Bureau will be happy to mail you a complete Sacramento Visitors Guide upon request. The Bureau provides callers with information between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday at (916) 264-7777, or visit www.discovergold.org anytime.

Access for Persons with Disabilities
Train rides on The Polar Express are not fully accessible to persons with disabilities, due to historic, limited doorway widths and steep stepwells. However, our train crews are always pleased to lend assistance when boarding and alighting from the train (provided wheelchairs or other oversize assistive devices are not required during the trip). Please notify the train crew prior to boarding, so we may best meet your needs.

The California State Railroad Museum and related “Polar Express” activities are fully accessible to persons with disabilities, except as noted above. If you require special accommodation, please notify us in advance of your visit by e-mailing us via the "contact us" page on our Polar Express home page, or by calling (916) 445-8270 (Daily 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT).