Beginning in December, some of the Valley Metro light rail trains will have some added Christmas cheer and special visitors. 

Holiday decorations, signing elves, cookies and visits from Santa will all be coming to Valley Metro’s “Polar Express” for the holiday season. The train will be free and open to the public. 

The experience is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s classic book and has been running for the last 17 years on the Grand Canyon Railway. 

The train’s route will begin at specific light rail platforms in Phoenix and Mesa on select December days, and will travel a few stops down the tracks before returning to its platform of origin. 

On Dec. 7, 8 and 15, the train will pass through Mesa’s Merry Main Street. It will depart from the light rail platform at Main Street and Mesa Drive and will travel back and forth from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

On Dec. 15, the experience will travel to Phoenix as the train will depart from the platform at 19th Avenue and Dunlap Avenue and will travel back and forth from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. 

The Metro Valley “Polar Express” is the first experience of its kind in Arizona.