Now the weather’s turning colder, it’s almost time to dust off the Christmas decorations, to light the fire and to snuggle up with your family to watch that annual favourite film, The Polar Express.  This year, there’s even the chance to take a ride on The Polar Express with your family, thanks to Virgin Trains.  

Every year at Christmas, The Polar Express is aired on television – that beloved movie about a train journey to see Father Christmas, starring Tom Hanks.  This year, to get everyone in the mood, Virgin Trains is about to unveil its very own ‘Polar Express’ for the Christmas season, following a nationwide competition asking school children to submit a train design.

Last year, sisters Ella and Ruby entered a Christmas card competition with a festive picture which they called a ‘Virgin Traindeer’.

What they didn’t know was that the team at Virgin Trains was secretly working behind the scenes to make their Traindeer a reality.   Here’s what happened when the girls, aged nine and 11, made a visit to Manchester Piccadilly station:

The 2015 Christmas Train competition (for kids aged five to 11) is being run in conjunction with the children’s reading charity Book Trust. Jill Murphy, author of The Worst Witch series and Five Minutes’ Peace, will help judge the entries and the winner will be announced on 1 December.

Last year’s Traindeer carried over 65,000 customers during the Christmas period. This year, you’ll have the chance to take your families on one of two Christmas Trains, which will be sporting the winning design and bringing festive cheer to England’s West and East Coasts.