By ANGIE ALVARADO

Managing Editor

Tickets for The Polar Express train ride still are available as the popular Texas State Railroad holiday event enters its third weekend on Friday.

“We have sold over 25,000 tickets for this event so far and we sell more and more tickets every day,” Lori Pennington, Texas State Railroad marketing manager, said Saturday.

“We’re adding an additional time and another rail car in order to meet the demand after Thanksgiving,” she said. “We get a lot of international visitors around Thanksgiving.”

Last year, more than 31,500 tickets for the event were sold and included visitors from 19 states as well as international riders.

“We always get a lot of out-of-state visitors every year,” Pennington said. “Last weekend I talked to some people from Pennsylvania and Minnesota.”

Inspired by the Warner Bros. film and award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express comes to life as families take a memorable ride to the North Pole. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas as they sip hot cocoa and read along with the story while the train makes a round-trip journey. The ride includes meeting Santa, caroling and, for those children who believe, a special gift.

Pennington and other employees at the Texas State Railroad are thrilled with The Polar Express.

“We’re real excited. This is our most popular event. We have gotten great reviews on the quality of our event from Rail Events,” Pennington said.

An earlier Polar Express run will be added on Saturdays in December, according to Pennington. Currently, The Polar Express departs at 5:10 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“Our capacity is 40,000 but we have the potential to add even more,” she said. “We need the ridership at the Texas State Railroad. This is our biggest event and we want to fulfill that demand.”

Although planning, coordinating and marketing The Polar Express means a lot of work for Pennington, she takes joy in the happiness it brings to others.

“I love this event, it’s a lot of work but worth it,” she said. “I love seeing all the kids in their pajamas. I can’t help going to this event and seeing the excitement on their faces, the kids and the parents.”

New this year is the offer to have a photo taken in front of The Polar Express backdrop for a keepsake of the magical night. The North Pole also has been expanded this year.

“We’ve built on to the North Pole. We expand it every year,” Pennington explained.

The Texas State Railroad will offer special school runs at a discounted price for students in December. The school runs will be at 10 a.m. and noon on Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10.

After Christmas (on Dec. 26 and 27), The Polar Express will take Santa back to the North Pole.

“We’ll do everything in reverse,” Pennington explained. “Santa will give out the bells first. We take him to the North Pole and when we get back to the depot we’ll have cookies and hot chocolate.”

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The Polar Express will depart the Palestine Depot on Nov. 27, 28 and 29; and Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 27. The train will depart at 5:10 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on those dates.

Tickets for Friday, Sunday and weekday runs are $19 for children ages 2-11, and $34 for adults in coach. Tickets for climate controlled car are $21 for children ages 2-11, and $38 for adults.

Tickets for Saturday runs are $23 for children ages 2-11, and $38 for adults in coach. Tickets for climate controlled car on Saturdays are $25 for children ages 2-11, and $42 for adults.

First-class seating in private car 1511, climate-controlled, is limited seating. Tickets are $39 for children ages 2-11, and $58 for adults.

Tickets are available online at www.TexasStateRR.com or by calling the reservation office at 1-888-987-2461.

For more information about this special event visit www.polarexpressride.com.