Caltrain’s Holiday Train has been an annual tradition since 2002, but something will be very different about the festively decorated train when it rolls out this Saturday — passengers will be on board for the first time.
The Holiday Train has been reinvented as an on-board experience as it shuttles from San Jose to San Francisco and back this weekend. The passengers will enjoy carols performed by Ensemble Continuo, readings of holiday stories and a visit from Santa in the decorated cars. Sounds great — if you have a ticket. They sold out in just 45 minutes when they went on sale Nov. 20.
For the rest of us, there’ll be pop-up activations and entertainment at four stations that are open to the public: San Jose Diridon, Palo Alto, San Mateo and San Francisco. The train will be making eight stops in each direction for those who want to cheer it on its way.
Some of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Real Options for City Kids (ROCK), Samaritan House and the Bill Wilson Center. The train leaves San Jose headed northbound at 2:50 p.m. and will leave San Francisco for the hourlong return trip to Diridon at 4:50 p.m. You can get the full schedule at www.caltrain.com/holiday-train/stops.