Head downtown on the West Coast Express Santa Train to do some holiday shopping, take in the Christmas displays downtown, and sip hot chocolate amid the holiday buzz!

Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation

The Santa Train returns this year on Saturday, Dec. 6 and 13. Be ready with an unwrapped, new gift or cash donation in exchange for your return ticket to ride.

It departs from Mission City Station at 10 a.m. on both days and arrives at Waterfront Station at 11:15 a.m. The return trip departs Waterfront Station at 4 p.m. View the full train schedule for both days at translink.ca/wce.

Watch a festive performance and pose for a photo op

Before you go, make sure to stop by the West Coast Express concourse at Waterfront Station. It becomes North Pole Station with activities for the whole family between 3 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. — just before the return trip at 4 p.m.!

Meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police K9 unit, and Holly and Jolly from the Vancouver Christmas Market. Ask Holly and Jolly for discounted admission to the market and for a photo!

There will also be a live music performance from the Chorus Studio choir and dance troupe on Dec. 6, boosting the holiday spirit before the return trip. 

All aboard!

All Santa Train donations benefit the communities served by the West Coast Express. Beneficiaries include the Mission Christmas Bureau, the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society, the Tri-Cities Share Society.

Donations made at the Santa Train event go directly to the communities you board in. For example, if you hop on at Moody Centre, your donation will stay in your community.