Quick answer
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage steam railway starting at Pickering station. Its main 2026 season ended on 1 November, so standard services are not running now. Santa Express runs from Pickering on selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026. Fares are £29.50, £34.50 or £39.50 per person by date, plus a £1.50 booking fee per booking. Winter Steamer trains then run daily from 27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, between Pickering and Goathland.
Is it right for my child?
- Santa Express: an hour-long return trip between Pickering and Levisham, with Santa and his elves visiting on board.
- Gifts: the event page says every child receives a gingerbread man plush toy (20cm tall) and a festive book.
- On the platforms: fete games, a Naughty or Nice Scanner, a letter to Santa post box and sing-alongs on Platform 2.
- Winter Steamer: hop-on, hop-off steam trains, plus a 1903 North Eastern Railway Autocar, through the North York Moors National Park.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Allow extra time for the platform activities, and for parking on busy days.
- Wrap up warm. On 13 November the station access leaflet asked visitors to wear layers in cold weather, because the carriages rely on steam heat.
- Pushchairs: the terms say pushchairs travel free, but only in the Guard’s van, never in seating, aisles or vestibules. Special events may add restrictions. With a pushchair, use the step-free routes rather than the stepped footbridge.
- Our own advice, not an official rule: keep young children close on the platforms and near the locomotives.
Prices and tickets
Santa Express. The event page says the railway has held its 2025 prices:
- 28 and 29 November: £29.50 per person.
- 5, 6, 12 and 13 December: £34.50 per person.
- 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December: £39.50 per person.
- Booking fee: £1.50 per booking.
- Babies: on 13 November the ticket shop listed adult (16+) and child (1 to 15) tickets at the same price. It showed no ticket for babies under 1. The official pages do not say how under-1s travel, so ask the railway before booking.
- Carers: £17.50, when the disabled visitor pays the full fare. On 13 November the ticket shop said adult carer tickets (16+) include no gift. It also said child carer tickets (under 16) include a gift from Santa. Carry valid ID.
- Wheelchair user tickets: on 13 November the ticket shop listed a wheelchair user plus one companion: an adult user with a child, or a child user with an adult. It cost £59 on 28 November, £69 on 5 December and £79 on 19 and 24 December.
Winter Steamer, 27 December to 3 January:
- Adult (16+): £24.95. The Adult and Child ticket is also £24.95, so one child aged 4 to 15 travels free with each fare-paying adult.
- Additional child (4 to 15): £6.50. Babies (0 to 3): free, sat on the lap of a parent or guardian.
- Carers: free. On 13 November the ticket shop said this applies when the disabled visitor pays the full fare, and carers should carry valid ID.
- Dogs: £3. Booking fee: £1.50 per booking. Wheelchair user tickets are available by contacting Customer Services.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Pushchairs: carried free in the Guard’s van only, subject to any special event restrictions.
- Toilets: the station page lists ladies, gents and wheelchair accessible toilets. On 13 November the access leaflet said accessible toilets are on both platforms and need a Radar key.
- Baby changing: the official pages we checked do not mention baby changing facilities at Pickering.
Food and drink
The Station Tea Room on Platform 1 serves meals, snacks, and hot and cold drinks. The Santa Express news page says the tearoom will be open on Santa days. Its own page gives no hours for Santa or Winter Steamer days.
For Winter Steamer, the event page says hot drinks and snacks are available. A Christmas Emporium opens for Santa Express.
Getting there and parking
- Address: Pickering Station, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7AJ. The station is just off the A170, and off the A169 about 9 miles from Malton.
- Station car park: the railway’s Pickering car park is operated by CPS UK Ltd. Charges apply daily from 9am to 6pm: £2 per hour or £7 all day. Parking is free outside those hours.
- Blue Badge holders are not exempt from the charges, the parking page says.
- Other car parks: the parking page lists Platform 3, the Ropery (short stay, maximum 2 hours), Vivis Lane and Eastgate in Pickering. They are not owned by the railway, and charges apply.
When to visit
Now: the fares page says the railway is closed for the main 2026 season. The opening times page gave that season as ending on 1 November 2026.
Santa Express runs on 28 and 29 November, and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026. Departures are at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00 from Pickering.
Winter Steamer runs daily from 27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Trains run only between Pickering and Goathland, because of maintenance between Goathland and Grosmont. Departures from Pickering are at 09:40 (Autocar), 10:45 and 13:45, with the last return arriving at 16:25. The Autocar has fewer seats, so the railway recommends booking in advance.
Winter Steamer tickets let you hop on and off at Pickering, Levisham, Newtondale Halt (a request stop) and Goathland that day.
Additional needs and disability support
- Relaxed Santa Express: one service only, the 15:00 departure on Saturday 28 November 2026. There is no relaxed service on later dates. It has fewer guests, softer sound and lighting with no surprises, allocated seats and a quiet waiting area in the Visitor Centre.
- Quiet space and ear defenders: on 13 November the station map marked an outdoor covered courtyard that can be used as a quiet space. It said ear defenders can be borrowed from Customer Services.
- Accessible carriages: wider double doors, portable ramps and space to move on board. On 13 November the leaflet asked visitors to get staff help and not move the ramps themselves. It gave 01751 472508 for booking ahead.
- Size limits: most services carry wheelchairs and scooters up to 700mm wide, 1200mm long and 230kg loaded.
- Step-free routes: on 13 November the station map showed an accessible route from the visitor car park and an accessible town-centre entrance. It also showed that the other town entrance has 4 steps, the footbridge has steps, and one route narrows to 1 metre.
- Parking and wheelchairs: on 13 November the leaflet put accessible bays less than 50 metres from the station entrance. Wheelchairs are available for the platforms only, subject to availability.
- Carer tickets: one necessary carer per disabled visitor who pays the full fare. A carer ticket cannot be used with other vouchers or offers. The railway prefers a Nimbus Card with +1 as proof, and lists other accepted documents.
Frequently asked questions
Are trains running now?
Not standard services. The main 2026 season ended on 1 November. Santa Express runs on selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026. Winter Steamer runs from 27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
How long is the Santa Express trip?
The train ride is an hour-long round trip to Levisham. Allow extra time for the platform activities.
Do babies need a Santa Express ticket?
The official pages do not say. On 13 November the ticket shop listed child tickets for ages 1 to 15, with no baby ticket. Contact the railway before booking.
Can we take the dog?
On Winter Steamer, yes, at £3 per dog. The terms say dogs must stay on a lead and off the seats. On 13 November the Santa Express ticket shop listed no dog ticket.
Do children travel free on Winter Steamer?
One child aged 4 to 15 travels free with each fare-paying adult. Extra children pay £6.50, and babies aged 0 to 3 travel free on a lap.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official North Yorkshire Moors Railway Santa Express, Winter Steamer, opening times, Pickering station, accessibility, parking and terms pages, and its ticket shop. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
