Nickel Plate Express
Excursion train and rail bikes
About
Nickel Plate Express runs themed excursion trains and rail bikes from Forest Park in Noblesville. You check in at Hobbs Station at the Forest Park Depot and walk out to the platform. The train uses 1950s Santa Fe Hi-Level passenger cars, built to give long-distance riders a high view of the countryside.
The rail bikes are separate from the train. Each bike seats four, and you pedal along the old rail line at your own pace. Which rides are on offer changes through the year, so look at the current lineup before you plan.
When to go
Two holiday rides suit families in 2026. The Reindeer Express runs on select dates from November 14 to December 23, 2026. It's a 75-minute round trip through Cicero and Arcadia with holiday music, a cookie, a drink, a letter-to-Santa activity and a visit with Santa. November seats cost less than December seats.
The Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure runs on select dates from November 19 to December 30, 2026. It takes about an hour, going from Forest Park toward downtown Noblesville and back, with a 60-foot light tunnel and a stop for hot chocolate and a cookie. Check in at Santa's House in Forest Park.
For 2027 the site lists Read and Ride, a two-hour trip with a family car, from $20. It doesn't list dates yet. Some other holiday trains, such as Holiday Cheers and Holiday Trivia, are for ages 21 and over.
Good to know
All train seating is on the upper level, up a narrow staircase, so the cars aren't wheelchair accessible. Service dogs are allowed, but pets aren't. Arrive 30 minutes before a train. Doors close 5 minutes before departure, and late arrivals aren't refunded. Parking at Forest Park is free. On the Reindeer Express, children 2 and under can ride free on a lap in Standard seating only.
On the rail bikes, riders must pedal, and the bikes aren't recommended for anyone over 6 feet 4 inches. On the Holiday Lights ride, children under 3 ride free in a carrier you bring.
Price
- Reindeer Express, Standard for 2 (Nov / Dec 2026)$95 / $115
- Reindeer Express, Standard for 4$180 / $230
- Reindeer Express, Platinum table for 4$210 / $250
- Reindeer Express, Diamond table for 2$142 / $164
- Reindeer Express, Diamond table for 4$284 / $328
- Holiday Lights Railbike, one rider$24.95
- Holiday Lights Railbike, quad bike for up to 4$89.95
Prices checked November 2026 on the website of Nickel Plate Express. They can change, so check before you go.
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