01938 810441
Menu Icon - Open
Book Tickets
Dates & Times

Special Events

Santa Specials

12 - 22 December 2026

A Santa Specials train experience in Mid Wales with more time to make memories.

This Christmas, join us for a longer Santa Special journey through Mid Wales, travelling to Castle Caereinion and back.

Santa on the train remains at the centre of the experience. Families will meet Santa and his elves on board, with time for Santa to speak to every family and every child. This year, there is even more festive fun to enjoy along the way, followed by a magical new final stop at Santa’s Workshop.

Best of all, there is no price rise this year. More time together, more festive moments and even more to remember, for the same great value.

Santa Specials at a Glance

  • Where: Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, with Santa joining at Tanllan and Santa’s Workshop at Llanfair Caereinion Station
  • What’s included: A longer return train journey to Castle Caereinion, Santa and elves on board, entertainer elves, Santa’s Workshop entry, child’s gift and a W&LLR Christmas decoration per family. Hot seasonal drink for adults and juice and biscuit for child.
  • New for this year: No price rise, a longer journey and a workshop visit with Mrs Claus and the elves

All trains depart from Llanfair Caereinion (SY21 0SF). Pre-booking essential.

Book Your Family’s Santa Train Experience

Make time for the moments that become family Christmas memories.

Choose your Santa Train date and secure your family’s place for a longer festive railway journey, Santa and elves on board, a visit to Santa’s Workshop and a gift for every child.

Because the best Christmas memories deserve a little more time

Santa Specials

You told us that the train journey was over too quickly, so this year’s Santa Trains will travel as far as Castle Caereinion and back.

That means more time to settle into the festive atmosphere, enjoy the railway journey and make those little Christmas memories together. There is no price rise this year, despite the longer experience.

Meet Santa and his elves on the train

Festive Cheer

Santa will join the train at Tanllan and make his way through the carriages with his elves.

He will take time to meet each family and speak to every child, keeping the personal Santa-on-the-train experience that so many families know and love.

Professional entertainer elves will also bring festive fun to the carriages where Santa is not currently visiting, helping to make sure the magic continues throughout the journey. Santa and the elves will change carriages at Cyfronydd and Castle Caereinion, giving families across the train the chance to enjoy the experience.

A Special Invitation to Santa’s Workshop

This year, Santa will give every child a special ticket inviting them into Santa’s Workshop after the train ride. It is a lovely way to build anticipation for the final part of your family’s Christmas visit.

Meet Mrs Claus and Choose a Christmas gift

After returning to Llanfair Caereinion Station, families will be welcomed into Santa’s Workshop under the new awning.

Mrs Claus and the elves will be there to welcome you, creating a cosy space for family photographs and a final festive moment before heading home.

Each child can choose one gift from Santa’s workshop shelves to take away. It is their own little present-picking moment to finish the day.

A Keepsake to Remember Your Visit

Every family will also receive a custom-made W&LLR Christmas decoration to take home.

Hang it on the tree each year and remember your Santa Train adventure, the longer journey through Mid Wales and the visit to Santa’s Workshop.

16 December

SEN Friendly Santa Trains

Our Santa Specials on 16 December have been specially adapted for families with Special Educational Needs.

  • Fewer passengers for more space and a quieter environment
  • Half-price adult and carer tickets, automatically applied when booking online
  • Santa, music and performances adjusted for a gentler experience
  • Limited wheelchair and additional access spaces available. Please contact us for more information.
Santa Specials Fares
Price
Additional Info
Adult
£24
(includes a mince pie and non-alcoholic hot seasonal drink)
Child (2 – 15 years)
£20
(includes an age appropriate present, soft drink and sweet treat)
Infant (under 3 year)
£5
(includes a small age appropriate gift)

Accessibility – Our trains have a limited number of spaces for wheelchair users. If your party has additional access needs please contact us on 01938 810441 before purchasing tickets.

SEN Friendly – 16 Dec: The trains on this day have been specially adjusted for those with Special Educational Needs. Adult/ Carer travel half-price automatically applied at checkout.

Wrap up warm – Our vintage carriages are steam heated, however our stations and many activities are outdoors, therefore we advise our passengers to wrap up warm during the winter months.

PLEASE NOTE – Members concessionary travel is not available during this special event. Due to the large number of small children, dogs are not permitted on our Santa Specials.

Book your Santa Specials tickets now

Book Tickets
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Customer Support Team

Do you love helping people? Join our Customer Support Team:

  • Deal with customer queries and offer information and advice.
  • Help to ensure all visitors have a positive experience.
  • Assist with keeping our background administration up to date.
  • We offer a traditional service where customers can talk to ‘real people’ if they want to.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Archives & Education Team

Do you love building and sharing detailed records of history? You might enjoy volunteering in our Archives and Education Team:

  • Help to find and store accurate and detailed records of our history.
  • Gather and record oral and written memories of our railway’s past.
  • Share our heritage stories with community and school groups.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Events Team

Do you like making good things happen? Could you help us to organise our special events?

  • Be part of the team planning and running special events throughout the year.
  • Vintage weekends, children’s events, themed events and the annual steam gala.
  • You can help with just one event or several during the year.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Museum & Visitor Centre Team

Do you love museums and heritage centres? You might enjoy volunteering in our Llanfair Connections Visitor Centre:

  • Meet and greet visitors.
  • Open weekends and school holidays from March to October.
  • Support children’s activities and learning.
  • Support heritage conservation and visitor interest.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Buildings & Grounds Gang

Do you want to help us to keep our station sites looking tidy? Can you spare some time on Tuesdays or Wednesdays?

Then join our Buildings and Grounds Gang:

  • Help to keep our stations and facilities well cared for.
  • Carry out routine and general maintenance as part of a team.
  • Regular Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the year.
  • Join the team on a regular or occasional basis.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Lineside Vegetation Gang

Do you want to help us to keep our railway line looking tidy? Can you spare some time on occasional weekends - one weekend per month or less?

Then join our Fence-to-Fence gang:

  • Be part of the team managing vegetation alongside the railway line.
  • Work outdoors as part of the team.
  • Regular two-day weekends throughout the year.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Track Gang

Are you happy working outside in the fresh air? Do you love the satisfaction of seeing a job well done?

  • Be part of our track gang, maintaining eight miles of railway track.
  • Work outdoors as part of the team.
  • Repairs and routine maintenance.
  • Weekday operations – currently every Friday.
  • Light tasks included, so no need for physical strength.
  • Reasonable mobility is required.
  • Supervision and training provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Engineering & Workshops

Do you love tinkering with cars? Then you’ll love volunteering in our engineering workshop!

  • Maintain and restore heritage locomotive engines.
  • Fabrication, fitting and machining of specialist parts.
  • Well-equipped workshop and facilities.
  • Both specialist and general roles.
  • Full training and supervision provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Shopkeeper

Do you want to volunteer and prefer to be indoors? Then join our busy station team as a Shop Keeper:

  • Serving customers in our station shops.
  • Restocking shelves.
  • Helping visitors with their purchases.
  • Full training provided.
  • Can be combined with the Assistant Station Master role if desired.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Locomotive Team

Do you dream of being a train driver? Make your dream come true!

  • Learn ‘footplate roles’ from Fireman through to Steam Engine Driver.
  • Train on heritage steam and diesel engines.
  • Drive our interesting and challenging line.
  • Shunt rolling stock around the stations.
  • Full, progressive training provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Guard : Signalman

Are you looking for a new volunteering experience? How about becoming a Guard or Controller Blockman for our heritage trains?

  • Manage all aspects of passenger train journeys.
  • Oversee train movements and timekeeping.
  • Help visitors to their seats and check tickets.
  • As Controller Blockman, take control of signals and points.
  • Full training provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Station Master

Do you enjoy making people happy? Then you’ll love volunteering as our Station Master!

  • Despite the title, women are very welcome too!
  • Oversee smooth operation of the station site.
  • Ticket sales.
  • Ensure station safety and cleanliness.
  • Make our visitors feel welcome.
  • Full training provided.
  • Start with Assistant Station Master role if preferred.

Volunteer Enquiry Form

Please complete the following information so that the Volunteer Liaison Office can deal with your enquiry. The information helps us to consider where we might be able to place you.