Santa train cancelled over mechanical failures

Weardale Railway said the Santa Express services would be back next year

A "much-loved" Santa train experience on a heritage railway has been cancelled over mechanical problems.

Weardale Railway's 2025 Santa Express services had been due to begin next month but restoration works on one of its locomotives were delayed and the backup engine suffered a "major generator fault", rendering it inoperable.

The company apologised saying it was "absolutely devastated" and that it had been unable to source alternative engines in time to reliably deliver the service.

People with existing bookings will receive a full refund and those affected will be contacted, Weardale Railway said.

In previous years, customers on the heritage railway attraction would be transported from Stanhope Station in County Durham, before Santa boarded the train and gave out gifts.

General Manager Claire Gibbons said: "We are sad and frustrated to have to make this decision.

"We have explored every possible option to keep the event running, but the mechanical challenges we're facing simply cannot be resolved in time."

Its key locomotive was sent for repairs in April and was originally due to return to service in this month.

Weardale Railway said the festive service would be back next year.

Other events such as their Halloween trains will go ahead as planned this year, as they use a smaller single-carriage diesel train unaffected by the current issues, the company said.