Rail Aid will be hosting three festive events for both children and adults this year in order to get the Christmas spirit flowing whilst raising funds for Railway Children and will see the following events:
- On Sunday the 18th of December, A Santa express special will be operated by SouthEastern and will see Santa joined by a team of elves from the Kent Community Rail Partnership. The special service will leave Maidstone at 11.28 and will travel the Medway Valley Line to Strood before returning via Paddock Wood and back to Maidstone for 13.05
- From the 1st to the 24th of December, Docklands Light Railway will be hosting Santa's Grotto at Tower Gateway Docklands Light Railway Station, providing an excellent chance to meet Santa and his helpers, enjoy a look around his home, take a photo and receive a special gift from Father Christmas. Little ones can also enjoy having their face painted by an artist, make some ‘magical' reindeer food and take part in the Docklands Light Railway Christmas Rescue!
- From the 16th to the 27th of December, The IFSCloud Festive Cable Cars will be getting into the Christmas Spirit. Adults will be greeted with a hot drink and mince pie whilst children get a winter activity pack and a festive story to keep them entertained whilst waiting for a private, specially wrapped cabin for a non-stop journey across the River Thames. Santa's helpers will also be there and will be giving all of the children a special and sustainable gift.
Further information about the events can be found here: https://railaid.co.uk/fundraise-for-us/santa-express/
Tickets can be booked here:
- SouthEastern's Santa Express on the 18th of December has tickets available through Branch Line Society at https://www.branchline.uk/current-fixtures.php
- Docklands Light Railway's Santa's Grotto until the 24th of December has tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dlr-santa-grotto-2022-tickets-445095020187
- IFS Cloud Cable Car from the 16th to the 27th of December has tickets available at https://tfl-cablecar.secure-cdn.eu.accessoticketing.com/calendarPricingWithImage/Events%20-%20Web
Railway Children's Group Director of Fundraising, Jack Miller, said: “These festive family events were a huge success last year generating lots of Christmas cheer and fun. We are thrilled this year we have support from across the railway to bring a range of festive events and grateful that once again that the industries have come together to raise funds to help us reach vulnerable children and families around the world.”
Presumably these trains are being run by qualified, professional raiway persons? What is wrong? Are they the exception to the rule of ruining Christmas like the other 99.9999% of their colleagues?