The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway has reluctantly had to temporarily stop taking bookings and change the schedule of this year’s Santa Special trains.

The Railway, based at Brockford Station in Wetheringsett near Stowmarket in Suffolk is popularly known as “The Middy”.

Its Santa Special trains will still run as originally planned on Saturdays and Sundays 7th and 8th, 14th and 15th, and 21st and 22nd December.

The trains originally scheduled to run on Sunday 1st December have had to be cancelled because of circumstances outside of the railway’s control.

At the moment, the Mid-Suffolk cannot guarantee that its Santa Special trains will operate as currently advertised.

For that reason, the railway has suspended to suspend taking bookings or payments.

Passengers with queries regarding future trains or refunds should contact the Mid Suffolk Light Railway

Tickets for the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway’s Santa Special trains will go back on sale at the end of November.

They offer a magical Christmas treat for children up to 10 years old with a trip on a steam train from Brockford Station to ‘North Pole Halt’ where Santa will be waiting in his Christmas Guards Van to greet each child and give them a present.

The stations at Brockford and ‘North Pole Halt’ will be fully decorated in the Christmas spirit, and after visiting Santa passengers hot drinks and snacks will be available and will Christmas crafts will be on sale.

Adults will also receive a complimentary cup of festive mulled wine.

Journeys to see Santa will be in the railway’s genuine Great Eastern Railway Victorian four-wheeler coaches, which in themselves are a historical experience for any passengers.

In line with passenger comforts in the Victorian era, the coaches are not heated so passengers should make sure they wrap up warm.

The disruption to the Santa Specials is unfortunate, as previous events this year at the railway have gone ahead as planned, including ‘Middy in the 1940s‘ during the Spring Bank Holiday, and a Steam Railway & Vintage Bus Day and a Big Bus Show & Steam Punk Day in August.