Chinnor Railway: Santa Steam Specials: Buy Tickets for OPEN-PLAN Seats

xperience a magical Santa Steam Special as we travel from Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire and chuff onward and 'Over the County Border' to meet Santa and his Elves at his new North Pole Grotto at Chinnor in Oxfordshire!

We continue to be in daily contact with Santa on his Steam Specials this December. We've exchanged lots of thoughts on how everyone who visits Santa can stay safe and well in these difficult times. Mrs Claus says that her first priority is a Covid-secure visit - but importantly she says that all the boys and girls (and their families) who travel to see Santa must still enjoy a fabulous experience!

With our Good To Go approval rating and carefully arranged Covid-secure features it means a new way of offering our Santa Steam Specials this year, and of course we will have much less seating available to accommodate social distancing and there will be enhanced cleaning between train services too.

Santa says that subject to any further Government restrictions he will visit the Railway on Saturday & Sunday 12 & 13 December, Saturday & Sunday 19 & 20 December, Monday 21 December, Tuesday 22 December & Wednesday 23 December. and that these tickets are NOW ON SALE BELOW! The Chief Booking Elf has also asked Santa if he can visit on Sunday 6 December as he says he knows seats will sell out quickly - but Santa says we won't know until nearer the time (so sorry, tickets for 6 December are not yet on sale).

Santa Steam Specials will ONLY leave from Princes Risborough station Platform 4 this year and they will depart at 10.45, 13.00 & 15.15. Santa says the whole experience will last approximately 1-HOUR & 40 MINUTES. (If you don't wish to travel to Princes Risborough to join a Santa Steam Special this year, Santa is planning to give you and your family the chance to meet him at his North Pole Grotto at Chinnor, without a train ride, on the same days as above. The Chief Booking Elf has been working on this and the Meet Santa Only Experiences are also now available).

When the steam train arrives at Santa's North Pole Grotto at Chinnor station there will be a stop-over of approximately 45-50 minutes, so that all children (and grown-ups!) can obtain refreshments and meet Santa in a socially-distanced and safe way - including a fun photo-opportunity with Santa, and from where he will direct his Elves to hand-out a thoughtfully chosen present to each child aged 1-15 years.

In Santa's Grotto there will also be a delicious Mince-pie for everyone and your choice of tea, coffee, chocolate, or non-alcoholic Christmas Berry Cordial (an alternative carton of fruit juice will be available for younger children if preferred). We're sorry - but due to limitations on how we operate this year - it means we are unable to provide for any other dietary needs.

Santa also says his steam-heated carriages will stay in-situ at Chinnor station platform during the stop-over and you are welcome to pick up your refreshments and stay seated on the warm train until Santa's helpers call you in socially-distanced groups to see Santa! There are also toilet facilities on the platform at Chinnor and for those late Christmas gifts our small Railway Shop will be open during the stop-over.

Do please book early to ensure travel on the day and train of your choice - thank you!

Quick Details

Duration: 1 hour 40 min.
Ticket Price: £16 per Seat. Includes refreshments at Chinnor and a thoughtful present for each Child 1-15 years.
Departure location: All of our Santa Steam Specials depart from (and return to) Platform 4, Princes Risborough Station, Buckinghamshire HP27 9DN.
Car Parking: Chiltern Railways Pay-and-Display at the station (Sat Nav HP27 9DN), Sat & Sun £5.50, Mon, Tue & Wed £8.50.
Buggies and Strollers: cannot be accommodated on the train. They can be left on Platform 4 at Princes Risborough, or you may prefer to leave them in your car for added security.
Santa and his Elves: will not be riding on the train this year, but be assured your Santa Steam experience will be as enjoyable as ever and we will see him instead in his North Pole Grotto at Chinnor.
Refreshments: mince pies for everyone and a drink of tea / coffee / chocolate or a warm cordial is included in the ticket price and will be served at Chinnor. We are unable to provide for any other dietary needs.
Accessibility: wheelchair space is only available in a separate area of the train and is limited to one disabled person and one accompanying carer.
Booking Size: 2-6 passengers. All passengers in one booking will be seated together.
Dogs: We welcome small pet dogs on our Santa Specials, but they must be kept on a short lead and are not allowed on the seats - please bring a blanket or other floor covering for them to sit on.
Presents: ‘Babes in arms’ who do not require a gift do not need a ticket. Every child age 1+ years will receive an age appropriate present.
Book early: due to reduced capacity early booking is highly recommended, tickets will sell quickly, don't delay book today.

SANTA SAYS YOU ALSO NEED TO KNOW THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR TICKETS:

Booking information

Arriving at Princes Risborough station:

Public-transport: we encourage all of our visitors to travel by train or 'bus wherever possible - or indeed walk or cycle if you live nearby - and there is an easy interchange between Chiltern Railways and Santa's Steam Trains at Princes Risborough - access to all station platforms is via the footbridge and there are station lifts for those with accessability needs. For more information, times, fares please see the Chiltern Railways website or go to Traveline for both buses and trains.

Car-parking: at Princes Risborough station is arranged via Chiltern Railways and provided by APCOA - the Off-Peak parking fee on Saturdays and Sundays is £5.50 and on Weekdays before 16.00 hours is £8.50. Payment is via the station ticket machines and Debit/Credit Card, or you can pay by the RingGo App. In Princes Risborough Town the nearest designated parking is the Mount Car Park (however it is a 15-20 minute walk down Manor Park Avenue to the Station). On Sat and Sun parking is Free at the Mount Car Park or on Mon-Wed up to 3 Hours - £1 (Up to 4 Hours £1.50) and payment is by Debit/Credit Card, or the RingGo App.

However you are arriving - please allow sufficient time for any delays on your journey to Princes Risborough, for parking and paying if travelling by car and for crossing over to platform 4 via the footbridge, remembering there will be mutliple families arriving at the same time and that we cannot wait for late arrivals.

Face Coverings:

Government Covid-Secure regulations require the wearing of a face covering when using public transport - including when on and about stations, boarding the train etc. However, your COMPARTMENT has six seats in your own self-contained space, which means that once onboard you can close the internal door and then REMOVE YOUR MASKS - although they must still be worn when joining or alighting from the train and when on and about stations, and when in Santa's North Pole Grotto.

Compartment Seats and Group Size:

All age groups must buy a ticket to receive an allocated seat and there are no further price reductions this year. However, one or two additional infants under 1-year may travel free of charge as part of your family group / bubble - but they will NOT be allocated a seat in your compartment or receive a present when you visit Santa's North Pole Grotto.

Customer Cancellation Policy:

Customer cancelled bookings will not be refunded.

If you are no longer able or no longer wish to travel - and notify us a minimum of 48 hours before your Santa departure time- we will endeavor either a) to transfer your booking to another service or b) to re-sell your tickets to another family in order for us to consider a refund. Any transfers or refunds, at any time, are subject to a £10 administration fee and are at the Railway's discretion.

No refunds can be provided for visitors who do not arrive at Princes Risborough Platform 4 in sufficient time for the booked departure time of their Santa train.

Anyone arriving on the day with symptoms of Covid-19 or who is required to self isolate will be refused entry and not be eligible for a refund. Anyone developing symptoms or required to self-isolate must contact us at the latest by 15.30 on the day prior to booked Santa departure for re-booking or full refund options to be considered.

No refunds will be made under any circumstances in respect of Parking Fees at Princes Risborough.

Amendments or Cancellation by the Railway:

If the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway is unable, for whatever reason, to run the advertised service and is unable to provide an alternative experience at a similar time on the same day as booked, you will receive a full refund of your booking and no further liability by the Railway will be incurred.

Access for our trains to Princes Risborough is subject to Network Rail approval on the day. In the unlikely situation that this approval is not granted and you have indicated on your booking that you plan to arrive by car, we will contact you either by email or text shortly before your planned departure to ask you to divert your journey to Chinnor and park in our car park there. If you have indicated on your booking you will arrive by another form of transport, we will arrange for you to be transferred to Chinnor. At Chinnor your Santa experience will be the same as advertised and we will provide a short train journey, most likely after meeting Santa. No refunds will be made in this event. It is therefore essential that you indicate your mode of transport using the options on the booking page.

No refunds will be made under any circumstances in respect of Parking Fees, including for example if a Santa Special is cancelled after your arrival at Princes Risborough.

If you still looking for other seating options:

See the link for seats in Compartment Carriages (where the fare for up to 6-persons is £95) or if you are looking for Wheelchair accommodation do call 07979 055366 to discuss your requirements please.