We encourage you to review the information on this website before placing your ticket order.
Please Contact Us BEFORE you purchase your tickets if you have any questions. We will respond as promptly as possible.
Ticket Information
Online reserved ticket purchases are highly recommended. Seating aboard all The Santa Express! trains are primarily limited to passengers who have purchased their tickets online in advance. A very limited number of “walk up” tickets for any of the trains may be available at each station prior to train departure. This is based solely on a first come basis. Walk-up tickets will not go on sale until all ticketed passengers are seated and it is determined by the Conductor that space is available.
- Don’t wait to order your tickets. Seating is limited and the closer it gets to the Christmas the more likely it is that trains will be sold out.
- “Walk up” ticket purchases are cash only. We HIGHLY recommend reserving your tickets online!
- Make careful note of your STATION LOCATION (Richland Village or Tuckahoe Village) and then your DEPARTURE TIME before placing your order. See refund information below.
- For train station locations and a link to Google Maps for directions, please click on the station you wish to board from: Richland Village or Tuckahoe Village.
- Reduced fares are available for children ages 2-12 in all coach seating.
- Braddock Inn, Long Island Lounge Car and Observation Lounge Car (Vista Valley) fares are one price for all passengers, ages 2 and up.
- Deluxe Family Suites (Vista Valley) are one price for up to 4 paying passengers, with an option to pay for a 5th (fifth) passenger, ages 2 and up.
- Children under 2 years old ride free in all cars – on lap.
- Online ticket sales prior to the beginning of the operating day. Weekend train ticket sales end at 6:00 AM, for most trains on the day of the excursion. Weeknight evening “Starlight” train ticket sales end mid-afternoon the day of the excursion.
- For groups of 8 or more, to assure sitting together and in the same car, please order your tickets with a single transaction. You may also place a note on your booking reservation when you purchase additional tickets.
Please read our COVID-19 Policy before purchasing your tickets.
Order Confirmation and Tickets
If you do not receive a confirmation number (in the form of a confirmation page) after submitting payment information or if you experience an error message or service interruption after submitting payment information, it is your responsibility to contact us at conductor@capemayseashorelines.org to ensure that your order has been placed. Please include your order information, including the name used to order the tickets, and a phone number if we should need to call you. Reminder confirmations will be emailed to passengers 24 to 36 hours before their scheduled train departure.
To reduce possible issues when picking up your tickets from “will call,” please create a screen shot, or print your Order Confirmation page after you are finished with your purchase. The Confirmation Page or ID are required when picking up your tickets.
All tickets and reservations are “will call,” and a member of every group will need to check in at the Station building. Your physical tickets will be available from the Ticket Agent, in the station, upon your arrival. Please plan to arrive at the station 30 to 40 minutes prior to your trains’ departure time.
Your tickets will be available from the Ticket Agent, in the station, upon your arrival. Please plan to arrive at the station no less than 30 minutes prior to your trains’ departure time.
At all stations, please watch your step when boarding or detraining. If you have small children traveling with you, be sure to take them by the hand when boarding or detraining. While waiting on station platforms, never allow or encourage children to stand or play near or on the railroad tracks.
Refunds, Exchanges, and Weather Related Cancellations
All tickets purchased through the Cape May Seashore Line website are non-refundable. Once purchased tickets may not be used on or transferred to any other train, date, time, or station without prior authorization.
If there is a need to make changes to your order: if your request is received early enough, at our discretion, we will make every effort to accommodate you. You may be charged a service fee. Contact us at conductor@capemayseashorelines.org.
Our trains do operate in the snow and we even look forward to it during the Christmas season! However, if weather conditions are such that our trains will not be running, we will post a cancellation notice on Facebook, and this website as early as possible. Refunds will be given only in the event that we cancel the train.
Billing Information & Verification
Orders are processed only after a billing address, and other billing information, has been verified. Occasionally, we receive incorrect billing or credit card account information for a ticket order that can delay processing and delivery. In these cases, a member of the Seashore Lines’ Passenger Services Office will attempt to contact you, using your contact information provided at the time of purchase.
The Seashore Lines uses FareHarbor for secure online ticket sales with built-in fraud protection and credit card verification. Your credit card statement will reflect this purchase with the company name of “FH* Cape May Seashore“.
If you encounter an issue placing your order, please contact us at conductor@capemayseashorelines.org.
Additional Notes
SMOKING is prohibited by State Law on all Cape May Seashore Lines’ trains, in all stations and on station platform waiting areas.
COURTESY: Please refrain from placing your feet on the seats for the convenience of the passengers who will be riding after you, and, to preserve the integrity of the historic equipment. Please remove your trash, bags and other materials, such as newspapers (or other printed matter) when you depart the train. Remember…. when leaving the train, take everything with you that you carried on board. Cape May Seashore Lines is not responsible for articles or personal belongings left behind on trains.
BICYCLE POLICY: Bicycles will be permitted by reservation only, with as much advance notice as possible. Space is limited, restricted to equipment capacity and reserved on a first come basis only. Please contact us at conductor@capemayseashorelines.org to make reservations.
PERSONAL ITEMS: Baby strollers, regardless of size, shall be carried in a specified area of the train and handled by the Conductor.
PETS: Only certified service animals are permitted on board in compliance with NJ State Law. Those service animals must be identified and appropriate documentation may be asked for by the Conductor. Please let us know in advance of your departure if you are traveling with a service animal by email at conductor@capemayseashorelines.org.
Send us your photos: Send your best Santa Express! photos and we may use them on our website and/or Social Media. Click here for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are refreshments served?
A. For customers purchasing a ticket in one of our First Class cars: Braddock Inn, New York Central 38, or Vista Valley; light refreshments, consisting of a small snack and hot chocolate, will be served.
Q. Can we bring food on the train?
A. Coach guests are encouraged to bring a modest food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard, and a small trash and recycling receptacle is available in the Coach cars. First Class guests are able to bring along their own modest hors d’oeuvres and refreshment if they choose.
Please email conductor@capemayseashorelines.org for additional information.
Q. Does Santa walk through the train or do the children go to Santa?
A. Santa walks through the train and spends time with each child.
Q. Are there restroom facilities on the train?
A. No. There are facilities located at each train station.
Q. Is the train heated?
A. Yes.
Q. Can strollers be brought on the train?
A. Yes, but they will be stowed by the conductor upon boarding the train.
Notice: The Seashore Lines cannot assume responsibility for any inconvenience, expense, damage, or other loss resulting in errors in time tables, brochures, delays in departure or arrival times, failure to make connections, equipment failures, system failures, shortage of equipment, lack of sufficient capacity or other operating deficiencies. Schedules, fares, days of operations, arrival or departure times, attractions, special services, on board services, special events and equipment are subject to change without notice.