FAQ for the Santa Claus ride

• What does the green, yellow, or red marking under each train on the booking page mean?

  Green = many seats still available on the train
  Yellow = train already partially reserved
  Red = train sold out

• My train shows "1 adult left" and "1 child left" as free. Why can't I book two tickets?

  There will then only be one seat left. If you can possibly hold your child on your lap, please simply book this (last) ticket and mention your child in the comments. We'll accommodate you!

• How does the booking process work?

  Book the number of tickets you require via the booking system.

  Immediately after booking, you will receive an invoice by email if you pay by bank transfer. Please transfer the invoice amount to our account within 5 days. If you pay via PayPal, you do not need to make a bank transfer. After receipt of payment, you will receive your ticket by email within 5-7 days.

  Please print it out and bring it with you on your journey.

• Can I pay for the tickets I order with a credit card or PayPal?

  Tickets ordered online can only be paid for by bank transfer or PayPal. Unfortunately, payment by credit card is not possible.

• What happens if I don't pay?

  After one week, you'll receive a payment reminder from us. If you don't pay within another week, we'll cancel your reservation. You won't receive a second payment reminder!

• Which trains are hauled by the steam locomotive? Can I book a specific steam train?

  There will be no steam locomotive operation on the St. Nicholas Day trips; all trains will be hauled by diesel locomotives.

• Can I exchange/return the tickets?

  Returns of paid tickets are possible until November 18, subject to a processing fee of €10 per transaction. From November 22, only rebooking for another Santa Claus train (if seats are still available) or exchanging tickets for regular trains (without reservation) for the next season (May 1 - October 3) are possible.

• Are there discounts for children or people with disabilities?

  No, unfortunately not. Santa Claus rides are priced very low. However, small children under three years old are welcome to ride for free, without the right to a seat, and (unfortunately) without receiving presents, as we have to prepare the Santa Claus bags.

• Can we take strollers on the train?

  No, unfortunately not on the train. We'll be happy to store your stroller in our station during the journey.

• Are there spaces for wheelchair users?

  Yes, we can accommodate 1-2 wheelchairs per train. Please contact us before booking at buchung@stumpfwaldbahn.de.

• Can I interrupt my journey and continue on a later train?

  No, unfortunately not. The seats are pre-reserved.

• Are there assigned seats?

  Yes, you will receive a fixed seat assignment upon booking. Seats will be allocated upon receipt of your booking. Tickets booked together will be seated together.

• How big are the compartments and what group size is ideal?

  On trains departing at XX:00 a.m., there are mostly seating groups of 6 people.
  On trains departing at XX:40 a.m., there are mostly seating groups of 4 people.

• I'm having problems with my booking (it doesn't work, I'm double-booked, I didn't receive a confirmation email, etc.). What should I do?

  Simply contact us at buchung@stumpfwaldbahn.de and we will sort it out with you.

• Are the cars heated?

  No, our cars are open. The one-way trip from Eiswoog to St. Nicholas takes only about 10 minutes. To warm up, there are campfires at the end points, and at Eiswoog station, there's even mulled wine/children's punch, pretzels, and bratwurst. Please reserve mulled wine/children's punch when making your online reservation.

• Where does the Santa Claus ride start?

  All St. Nicholas trips depart from Eiswoog station. We do NOT travel to Ramsen-West on St. Nicholas Day.

• Can I also travel by car or only by Deutsche Bahn/VRN?

  There's a large, unpaved parking lot at our Eiswoog train station, so you can also arrive by car. However, the parking lot can get quite full during peak times. For the full St. Nicholas experience, we recommend traveling by Deutsche Bahn. The DB/VRN day ticket is quite affordable. Our departure times are coordinated with DB trains. The Deutsche Bahn stop is about a 5-minute walk from our Eiswoog train station. A steep, romantic forest path leads down to us. The forest path is lit but not suitable for wheelchair users or strollers.
  Please note that the DB line between Ramsen and Eiswoog is currently closed indefinitely due to construction work. Check whether DB/VRN services are available on your booked St. Nicholas Day.