MEDIA CONTACT: Insight PR St. Louis Mary Hendron, Nancy Milton or Julie Lally 314-962-6400 [email protected]

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ TRAIN RIDE FACT SHEET

The Polar Express™ Train Ride™ tickets can be purchased at www.STLPolarExpressRide.com or by phone at 314-942-6942.

Coach tickets are priced at $38. First-class tickets are priced at $68. Lap children (under the age of 2) are free.

More than 40,000 riders are expected to enjoy The Polar Express™ Train Ride™ during the 2014 holiday season.

Trains begin on Saturday, November 22, 2014 and continue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through December 28, 2014.

Hotel packages, which include accommodations at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a Doubletree by Hilton, The Polar Express™Train Ride tickets and souvenirs, are available by visiting www.STLPolarExpressRide.com or dialing 314-621-5262.

Parking is available under the Train Shed at St. Louis Union Station for $5 on The Polar Express ™ Train Ride event days.

The trains are real, full-sized train cars, which depart St. Louis Union Station for “The North Pole.” The journey to the North Pole and back to St. Louis Union Station is approximately 40 minutes long. Passengers do not disembark at the North Pole. -MORE-

The Polar Express™ Train Ride Fact Sheet Page Two

Trains depart St. Louis Union Station at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Passengers should gather before the ride at Polar Express Depot, located immediately inside the Train Shed (back) entrance to St. Louis Union Station. Passengers are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before their scheduled departure time.

Chef characters will serve hot chocolate and cookies to all passengers onboard the trains. Chefs will lead passengers in singing Christmas carols on the way back to St. Louis Union Station.

Santa Claus and his elves will board the train at the North Pole and will interact with the children on the return trip to St. Louis Union Station.

Children 12 and under will each receive the first gift of Christmas, a silver sleigh bell, from Santa Claus during the train ride.

During the train ride, passengers will read along with the classic children’s book The Polar Express, by . THE POLAR EXPRESS film is based on Chris Van Allburg’s classic Christmas , which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. In 1986 it won the prestigious for Illustration.

Passengers are encouraged to wear their pajamas on the train ride.

Holiday Magic musical entertainment, events and special vendors will be underway at St. Louis Union Station on train ride event days, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 22, 2014 through December 28, 2014.

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THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters TM & © 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. (s14)