Kerst Expres — Miljoenenlijn

The Miljoenenlijn, the heritage railway of Simpelveld in South Limburg, runs its Kerst Expres on selected days around the festive season. The operator invites passengers to enjoy a nostalgic Christmas atmosphere on a steam train journey: the steam locomotive pulls away softly, the steam heating warms the vintage carriage and wisps of steam decorate the windows on the outside, with the winter landscape of South Limburg passing by.

The Kerst Expres shuttles several times a day between the main station at Simpelveld and Schin op Geul, calling at Eys-Wittem and Wijlre-Gulpen. A railbus also runs all day between Simpelveld and Kerkrade, Vetschau in Germany and Schin op Geul. Passengers can get on and off at any station along the way.

At Simpelveld, in and around the station building, volunteers welcome guests with old-fashioned Christmas music and decorations. Children can look at the nativity scene on the platform, and the station restaurant Brasserie Perron 4 serves hot chocolate with Limburg vlaai or home-made soup.

On the Kerst Expres days the operator also offers its well-known packages, for example the Miljoenenlijn Arrangement, which combines a steam train ride, lunch at Brasserie Perron 4 and an informative walk round the museum yard.

A steam-hauled train ride between Simpelveld and Schin op Geul with a Christmas atmosphere at the station: old-fashioned Christmas music, decorations, a nativity scene on the platform for children, and hot chocolate with Limburg vlaai or soup at Brasserie Perron 4. Passengers can get off at any station on the way.

Boards at Station Simpelveld, Stationstraat 22, the main station of the Miljoenenlijn; parking is free at Simpelveld and at the other stations. The timetable differs per running day and is published on the operator's driving-days page. The steam train is accessible to passengers with a physical disability only at Simpelveld and Schin op Geul, where a ramp is used; the railbus is not yet accessible with a wheelchair, walker or pushchair. Assistance and guide dogs are welcome. With the Miljoenenlijn day ticket, passengers can travel free on the Arriva trains from Schin op Geul to Valkenburg, and the operator mentions onward connections to the Christmas events in Valkenburg, Heerlen and Maastricht. Online booking is available through the operator's ticket page.