Polar Express debuts in Santa Cruz after weeklong delay

It didn’t snow Friday night and the Arctic is more than just an hour away, but as far as some kids are concerned, Santa came to Santa Cruz.

The Polar Express made its debut after a weeklong delay, making four hour-long trips to the North Pole.

Some living near the train tracks were concerned about noise and congestion, but those who hopped on say it was a ride to remember.

“I’m hoping that she has the time of her life and that her little eyes light up and stuff. And it just makes her Christmas merrier and brighter,” said Kathy Reigherd, a grandmother.

And for Reigherd, this is more than just a ride

“I’m in stage 4 lung cancer, so it’s very important that we have this bonding. She’s never ridden a train before. So this is an experience, just to ride a train,” Reigherd said.

Not any train, the Polar Express train.

“I didn’t like it. I loved it. They were so nice to us, it was amazing. They read us a story. It was fantastic,” Abigail Villa said.

The ride included some sweet treats to kick off the holiday season, and create memories to the North Pole and beyond.

“This is the time of the year to be in those good spirits. And no matter what, I still have my family, and I’m still here, so we still gotta take very day and celebrate it like it was our first,” Reigherd said.

The train will run through this weekend, next Wednesday, and continue running in December.

The price ranges from $29 to $69 for children and adults.