The Polar Express Train Ride will run at four UK locations from November this year.

PNP Events and Warner Bros. have announced that the trips will operate at:

• London Euston station
• Wensleydale Railway, where it also ran in 2021
• Spa Valley Railway
• South Devon Railway

This year, the events will raise money for the WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF) in its efforts to protect polar bears. Proceeds from sales of carrier bags at the on-site shops will go towards the WWF’s work. Event organisers describe this as “a small gesture with a big impact – perfect for little ones learning about looking after our planet”.

Last year, more than 1.5 million people rode on the Polar Express Train Rides, at 54 locations in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. UK venues included Edinburgh.

The trips will run from November and continue until Tuesday 23 December. Tickets are now available for all locations, and event organisers expect that some dates will fill quickly.

At the heritage railway venues, the train rides will take passengers on a “magical round-trip journey to the North Pole” based on the film Polar Express, which is itself based on Chris Van Allsburg’s award-winning Christmas picture book. Both tell the story of a young boy taking a trip to the North Pole aboard a magical train. It was first published in 1985 and has sold over 12 million copies around the world.

As in the Polar Express story, there will be a lively cast of characters delivering interactive fun during the ride.

On-board entertainment will include a conductor punching golden tickets, and dancing chefs serving hot chocolate and cookies. Passengers will be invited to read along with book.

During the journey, Santa Claus will board the train and give every guest a silver sleigh bell as a Christmas present. Every passenger will also receive a souvenir golden ticket.

The organisers are encouraging families to dress in pyjamas as the children in the film do.

Exact dates, departure times and ticket prices are available from each location’s website.