Christmas is a magical time
at the Bluebell Railway
Make your Christmas extra special by joining us on one or more of our
special trains to suit your family's requirements.
Postal and online booking opens for our 2009 Santa Specials on 1st July, and telephone bookings (01825 720806) are taken from Monday 5th October 2009.
Booking is already open for the Victorian Christmas trains, and the Christmas Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Train.
After Christmas we will be operating our normal train service. Every day from 26th December until 1st January 2010 trains will depart from Sheffield Park each hour from 11am until 4pm.
These will run on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 23 and 24 December.
Our Santa Specials will leave Sheffield Park and head for Kingscote, some 9 miles away. Meandering gently through the delightful Sussex countryside, the journey will take you through the atmospheric Sharpthorne tunnel on the way to Kingscote.
Your return trip with us will last around 90 minutes. At Kingscote have your photograph taken with Santa in his special marquee and watch the locomotive move from one end of the train to the other before the return journey to Sheffield Park.
The Bluebell Railway's Santa Specials are very popular, and for this reason we ask you to book in advance. We reserve seats for your journey at the time of booking with the traditional layout of "facing" or "back" to the engine.
Booking is very easy: Telephone us from 5th October on 01825 720806 with your credit card number for an immediate confirmation of your reservation - further details (including postal booking which opens on 1st July) are included below.
On-line bookings through the Bluebell Shop are also available (for third-class tickets only). First Class or Observation Car tickets can be booked by phone or post - further details are included below.
All our Santa trains (except for the Victorian Christmas specials) start from Sheffield Park Station where we have the Bessemer Arms bar restaurant. Festive and other luncheon menus will be available. Our self service restaurant "Puffers" will also be open, where you can enjoy anything from a cup of tea to a full meal and no reservations are necessary.
OBSERVATION SALOON: Adults £24.00, Child (1-13 years) £12.00
A beautifully restored vehicle built in 1913 with panoramic side and
end windows affording the best possible view of the line (photo, right). A very
popular Christmas choice - so book
early!
FIRST CLASS: Adults £22.00, Child (3-13 years) £14.00,
Toddlers (1&2 years old) £6.00 (Seats are not provided
for toddlers)
That extra touch for Christmas with generous seating, some in
six-seat compartments, some in 4 and 2 seat bays adjoining a central
aisle.
THIRD CLASS: Adults £18.00, Child (3-13 years) £10.00,
Toddlers (1&2 years old) £6.00 (Seats are not provided
for toddlers)
More comfortable than the name implies! The pleasantly
upholstered seating is mainly in 4-seat bays either side of a central
aisle. This saloon style enhances the feeling of anticipation as
Father Christmas approaches.
Cheques should be made payable to Bluebell Railway, or if you wish to pay by UK Maestro, Credit or Debit card please add the card number, expiry date and 3 digit security code to the booking form.
Telephone bookings open at 10am Monday 5th October 2009.
On-line bookings through the Bluebell Shop are also available, for Third-class seats only.
We will consider refunds on their merits if cancellations are made at least 7 days before the date of travel. Unfortunately refunds cannot be considered after this time (except in emergencies). Requests for refunds must be notified by telephone and immediately confirmed in writing. An administration fee of £10.00 will apply to all refunds.
Obviously every effort will be made to run the trains according to this timetable but unforeseen circumstances may entail alterations or cancellations. Bluebell Railway plc reserves the right to vary any of the provisions contained within this web page without prior notice.
Santa Special booking form - print out the web form - or book online.
Victorian Christmas -
Christmas Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Train
Updated 1 July 2009 by Richard Salmon.