Due to Overwhelming Demand, 

Additional Dates are Scheduled for:

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

At St. Louis Union Station

New, Themed Dining Experiences

At The St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a DoubleTree By Hilton

Add to the Holiday Fun

Due to overwhelming demand, St. Louis Union Station announces that additional dates have been scheduled for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, and new themed dining options are now available in the newly reinvented Grand Hall.

Excursions on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride have been added on Thursday, December 4; Thursday, December 18; Monday, December 22; Tuesday, December 23; Monday, December 29; and Tuesday, December 30.  Previously announced excursions will take place beginning Saturday, November 22 and continuing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 28. The magical story comes to life when real trains depart St. Louis Union Station at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. for a round-trip journey to the North Pole.  Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas on the train.

To purchase tickets, visit www.STLPolarExpressRide.com or dial 314-942-6942.  Coach tickets are $38, First Class tickets are $68, Premium Class tickets are $75 and Diamond Class tickets are $89.

HOTEL PACKAGES EXTEND THE EXPERIENCE

Hotel Packages, which include tickets on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, are now available at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton.

 Coach Class Packages, which include hotel accommodations, four tickets on the train, a souvenir Golden Ticket, hot chocolate and cookies, start at $229. A letter from Santa and a small bedtime treat complete the magical evening. Premium Class Packages include hotel accommodations, four premium-class seats on the train, four commemorative ceramic THE POLAR EXPRESS™ hot chocolate mugs, a Holiday Magic snow globe, and The Polar Express book, starting at $349. Guests also receive an in-room delivery of a letter from Santa and a small bedtime treat. A Diamond Class special packages offers all the amenities of the Premium Class Packages plus limited seating on the upper level of the Dome Car with larger than normal windows for viewing the train ride experience. 

The AAA Four Diamond St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton, is located in the National Historic Landmark St. Louis Union Station. Built in 1894, the station was once the largest and busiest rail center in America.  St. Louis Union Station is owned by Lodging Hospitality Management. The hotel has been named one of the world's top railway themed hotels by Condé Nast.

Dial 314-942-6942 for hotel packages or visit the hotel tab at www.STLPolarExpressRide.com.

FESTIVELY THEMED HOLIDAY MEALS

Holiday-themed meals featuring well-known characters have been added to the calendar at St. Louis Union Station.  Families will be served by Chef characters and will meet a Conductor and Santa's elves during the dinners.  

Dinners will be in Grand Hall and will include entertainment by a projection show featuring THE POLAR EXPRESS™, face painting and photographs. The dinners will feature festive adult and children's buffets and are scheduled for 5, 6, and 8 p.m. with an elaborate holiday dessert buffet at 10 p.m. The dinner buffets and the dessert buffet will be priced at just $15. Themed dining experiences can be reserved online at www.STLPolarExpressRide.com with or without tickets on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride or as an add-on to already-purchased train excursions.  Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas during the events.

HOLIDAY MAGIC EVENTS AT ST. LOUIS UNION STATION

In addition to THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, St. Louis Union Station will be the epicenter of seasonal celebrations with Holiday Magic entertainment events on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 22 through the end of December. The station's beautiful Grand Hall will be home to a spectacular, one-of-a-kind projection show featuring THE POLAR EXPRESS™ on train excursion dates.

On November 22, the Salvation Army Tree of Lights, located in the plaza across Market Street from Union Station, will be illuminated during the Festival of Lights celebrations that include a stunning fireworks display and an appearance by Santa, who will be arriving at St. Louis Union Station by train.

Thanksgiving Day weekend, November 27-30, begins with the Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Thanksgiving Day Run on Thursday. Both events will be broadcast live at St. Louis Union Station. Throughout the weekend musical performances will take place throughout the station, a holiday model train display will thrill rail fans and a gingerbread house contest and Hall of Trees auction will add to Christmas cheer.

On December 13 and 14, events for the Hot Chocolate 15/5K Run will start at St. Louis Union Station. The race's VIP party, Saturday, December 13, features chocolate vendors, tastings and holiday events in the station's Midway. Sunday, participants run a route that begins and ends near the station and includes a chocolate stop along the race course.

ABOUT THE POLAR EXPRESS™ TRAIN RIDE

Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™. Once onboard, hot chocolate and treats are served as passengers read along with the classic children's book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa and his helpers greet passengers at the North Pole and then board the train, where each child is given the first gift of Christmas - a silver sleigh bell. Chefs aboard each car lead passengers in singing Christmas carols on the ride back to St. Louis Union Station.  

Official THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides are licensed by Rail Events, Inc. on behalf of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. Since 2005, Rail Events, Inc. has held the exclusive license to operate THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

                                                 

THE POLAR EXPRESS Film

The Academy Award winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for THE POLAR EXPRESS, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg.  When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Sony Pictures Imageworks and visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston, Oscar winners for their innovative work, help bring the story vividly to the screen in full CG animation through Imageworks' next-generation motioncapture process that allows live-action performances to drive the emotions and movements of the digital characters. Warner Home Video will once again offer THE POLAR EXPRESS in standard-definition, Blu-ray and 3D DVD versions this holiday season.

                                                                       

THE POLAR EXPRESS Book

THE POLAR EXPRESS film is based on Chris Van Allburg's classic Christmas picture book, which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. In 1986 it won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for Illustration.  

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About Rail Events Inc.

Rail Events Inc. is the industry leader in rail-related special events management. In 2013, we hosted over 600,000 guests at 50 licensed events with 34 partner railroads in the US, Canada, and the UK. Rail Events Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Heritage Railways, which is the premier operator of heritage railroads in the United States.

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