EXCITEMENT is building at a North-East heritage line ahead of the launch of its new Christmas experience this weekend.

Train to Christmas Town will replace Weardale Railway’s popular Polar Express event, which was axed following a £3m dispute with a Warner Bros’ subsidiary over unpaid royalties.

The Northern Echo: FESTIVE: Ticket sales are going well for the new adventure

FESTIVE: Ticket sales are going well for the new adventure

Uncertainty over the event’s future had been growing for some time and last month the company, owned by British American Rail Services, announced it was being replaced with a Train to Christmas Town.

But the story change did not put off North-East families, with more than £6,000 tickets for the new event sold within the first 24 hours.

Claire Blakey, events manager at Weardale Railway, said sales had remained strong since then and extra dates had been added to accommodate demand on the run up to Christmas.

She said the team were pulling out all of the stops to ensure the launch, on Saturday, November 25, and all of the train rides that follow are truly magical.

“Sales are not quite matching what they’ve been in previous years due to the delay in tickets going on sale but they are still strong and we are very pleased with the response,” she said.

“Everyone is really excited. It’s the dress rehearsal this weekend and as a lot of the cast have worked for us year after year it will be like a reunion. There is such a great atmosphere.”

Based around Peggy Ellis’ beloved children’s book of the same name, the family friendly train ride recreates the story of Janice and her brother on their annual journey to Christmas Town.

On board, passengers will meet a host of interactive characters including the ticket punching train conductor, Bumblebee the polar bear and Wabash the squirrel as well as a troupe of cheeky dancing elves who entertain as they serve up delicious cookies and hot cups of cocoa.

Along with storytelling and Christmas carolling; passengers will also get to meet Santa Claus when the train stops at the North Pole at Christmas Town, recreated in Stanhope Station.