All aboard: ScotRail launches Santa Express for festive season

Santa has been getting ready for his busiest time of the year by launching his very own ScotRail express train.

The Santa Express is a partnership between the train operator, the Railway Children charity and Father Christmas himself.

Decked out in a festive theme, Santa Express will begin at 8.58am on Saturday, December 4, when it will leave Edinburgh Waverley and head to Boat of Garten in the Highlands before returning to the capital at 4.46pm.

There will be another four journeys, with two each on December 11 and December 18 , leaving Waverley and travelling around the Fife Circle Line.

Father Christmas will be making an appearance on each journey and will be walking up and down the train to hand out gifts in person to the children on board.

And there will be treats for mums and dads too, including a hot drink and festive snacks.

There will also be performances from a magician and, on the trip to Boat of Garten, there might even be a sighting of some reindeer.

Ticket prices start from £12.50 for a standard child and £25 for an adult on the Fife Circle Santa Express, with a family ticket, for two adults and two children, costing £65.

And on the Boat of Garten Santa Express, it’s £30 per child, £60 per adult and £160 for a family ticket.

The Railway Children charity will benefit from all ticket sales, and ScotRail staff are donating the presents for the children to receive on the train.

David Simpson, ScotRail operations director, said: “We are delighted to be launching Christmas 2021 today with Santa and the Railway Children charity.

“It’ll be great to see the faces of all the children, and maybe the parents too, when Father Christmas hands out presents to them on the train.”

And Railway Children CEO, Terina Keene, said: “Thank you so much to ScotRail for supporting us with this lovely, festive event.

“It should be a brilliant experience for everyone and a great start to the Christmas season at the same time as raising funds to help us reach vulnerable children and families around the world.”