Santa Claus Train: what it is and how to visit

The Santa Claus Train is a joint project of Russian Railways and the government of the Vologda Region, within the framework of which Santa Claus travels around the cities of the country with a festive New Year’s program. Residents of the settlements where the mobile residence of the symbol of the New Year will visit can visit the train and buy souvenirs. The history of the Santa Claus train project and its route is in the Kommersant reference.

Train history and route for the 2023/24 season

The first Santa Claus train departed from Veliky Ustyug to remote locations in Russia in 2021, covering a distance of 15 thousand km and visiting 36 cities. About 200 thousand people took part in the festive events at stations and terminals, of which about 10 thousand traveled on the train itself. In the second season, 2022-2023, the train set off on October 23 for a three-month journey across Russia from Veliky Ustyug to Vladivostok and the most extreme point of Russian railways – the Pacific station in Nakhodka. The total length of the round trip route was 33 thousand km. The train route passed through the cities of BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway, the European part of Russia, Sochi, St. Petersburg and Moscow, and included 200 stops.

After the completion of the traveling New Year’s celebration, Father Frost’s train becomes an exhibition object until it departs again in the next winter season. Every year the train is replenished with new cars. This season, the festive residence of Father Frost included a reception car, a “fairytale village” car for games and quests, a stage car and a puppet theater car.

The train route for the 2023/24 season began in Veliky Ustyug; on November 13, the train arrived at its first stop, Labytnangi. The festive lineup will visit the largest cities in the north of Russia, stopping at Tyumen, Yekaterinburg and Severobaikalsk, and the farthest point of the route will be the city of Tynda in the Amur Region. From there, Father Frost’s train will head south, calling at Astrakhan and Voronezh, and then back to the Vologda region. Father Frost and the Snow Maiden will arrive in Moscow on December 27, and in St. Petersburg on January 6 and 7. Father Frost will celebrate the New Year in Petrozavodsk.

Train employees

The creative staff of the train are traditionally the All-Russian Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug, the Snow Maiden from Kostroma, a team of artists and animators depicting fairy-tale characters – Auntie Aushka, Father Treskun, gnomes, rabbits, tigers, snowmen and others. In all cities and at all stations they host festive events, games, and dances. The train is also serviced by a team of more than 100 workers – technicians, repairmen, drivers, train supervisors, conductors, administrative staff, security guards and others.

How to buy a ticket

Anyone can visit the Santa Claus train and see its fairy-tale characters at stations, terminals, and station squares during a two-hour stop, but tickets are required to visit the train. You can buy them on the portal of the New Year’s composition itself, as well as on the website of Russian Railways.

A visit to the train will cost 1,950 rubles, and a puppet theater will cost another 1,950 rubles. Ticket sales for performances until December 6 are already open on websites from November 7. Ticket sales in other cities will open 30 days before the arrival of the Santa Claus train.