Kansas City Southern Holiday Train Coming to Higginsville & K.C.

The Kansas City Southern Railroad has announced it's 2019 Holiday Express schedule and you'll be able to see it in Higginsville and Kansas City. If you're unfamiliar with Kansas City Southern's Holiday Express, here's how the company describes it:

"Led by KCS’ Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car 'Rudy'; a flat car carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a gingerbread boxcar; an elves’ workshop; the reindeer stable; and a little red caboose.  Each car is dressed in lights."

Visitors to the Holiday Express can board the train, meet Santa and his elves, and tour three cars of the six car train. Each event is free and open to the public. KCS' Holiday Express is scheduled to arrive in Higginsville at the Depot on Tuesday December 17 at 4:00PM CST. The train is them scheduled to arrive at Kansas City's Union Station on Wednesday December 18 at 2:00PM CST. People will be able to view KCS' Holiday Express at Union Station through Sunday December 22. KCS president and chief executive officer Patrick J. Ottensmeyer says:

KCS is thrilled to bring joy to communities throughout our network with the Holiday Express project. This special tradition brings people together, strengthens community ties and supports our corporate values.

Kansas City Southern's Holiday Express is built on the tradition of the Santa Train which ran on a segment of the network bought by Kansas City Southern. In 2000 employees noticed this was the only Christmas some of the families had, and that some of the kids visiting didn't have winter clothing like hats, gloves and coats and wanted to elevate the project.

This lead to volunteers transforming a retired freight train into the Holiday Express in 2001 and a partnership with the Salvation Army.

Each year KC Southern employees, vendors, and friends contribute to the Salvation Army and funds are donated to the Salvation Army at each Holiday Express stop and designated for the purchase of warm clothing and other necessities for children in need. If you're interested in making a donation you can do that here.

Kids, train lovers and kids at heart will love visiting KCS' Holiday Express. In fact, it could become a holiday tradition for your family. Here's the Holiday Express schedule for our area:

• Tuesday December 17 4:00PM CST    Higginsville Train Depot
• Wednesday December 18 2:00PM - 7:00PM CST  Union Station Kansas City
• Thursday December 19 11:00AM - 6:00PM CST  Union Station Kansas City
• Friday December 20 11:00AM - 5:00PM CST Union Station Kansas City
• Saturday December 21 10:00AM -7:30PM CST Union Station Kansas City
• Sunday December 22 10:00AM -7:30PM CST Union Station Kansas City

If you're interested in the route the Holiday Express Train takes you can look at the schedule published by Kansas City Southern here.