Checked 2026-11-06

Polar Express and Train of Lights sold out? How to get seats

Puffing Billy runs special events during the year. Two well-known ones are the Polar Express and Train of Lights. They are popular. Reports say they have sold out online, in some years weeks before the event began.

PB Watch is an unofficial service. We are not part of the railway. We do not know when each event is released. Always check the official site.

Know the events

Polar Express: a themed train ride for families, aimed at children.
Train of Lights: an evening ride with lights along the route.

Details, dates and prices change each year. The railway's site is the only reliable source.

Before release day

Find the release date. Look at the events page on the official Puffing Billy site. Some railways also send news by email or post it on social media.
Pick two or three backup dates. The ideal date may sell out in minutes.
Decide your party size. You need all seats on the same train. A big group is harder to place.
Have your details ready. Names, ages and email make the booking quicker.
Log in early if the site allows it. Open the page a few minutes before release.

On release day

Choose the date with the best odds first, not the date you like most.
Work fast, but check the total before you pay.
Tickets are non-refundable and not transferable, so be sure of the date.

If you miss out

Check other dates and other times. Events often have many departures.
Check for extra dates. The railway may add more later.
Look at the booking page again in the days that follow. Seats can return.
Use a seat alert so you do not have to check by hand.

Seat alerts for events

PB Watch checks the booking page about every 20 minutes for the dates and party size you choose. If seats appear, we email you. You then buy on the Puffing Billy website.

An alert costs A$10 and covers 1 to 14 days. It works for any date the booking page shows. We cannot promise that seats will open, and we do not book for you. We cannot say if an event is covered by the same booking page, so test the dates in the alert form.

Be careful with resale listings

Sold-out events can appear on reseller sites at higher prices. Check who the seller is, what the ticket includes, and what the refund terms say. Remember that the railway's standard terms say tickets are non-refundable and not transferable. A ticket that is not valid on the day is a lost cost.