(The Associated Press circulated the following article on June 15.)
PENINSULA, Ohio — A dispute between a railroad and a Hollywood studio has been settled, allowing the Polar Express to run this holiday season after all.
The nonprofit Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad announced in May that it was ending the Polar Express-themed rides because it could not afford to pay licensing fees to Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the popular children’s book and movie.
The railroad near Akron said it would find a new theme for its holiday train ride. Then, Wednesday’s agreement allowed railroad to keep the Polar Express name on the attraction. Terms of the deal were not released.
Railroad president and CEO Doug Cooper announced that ticket prices for children were increasing $5, making fares $20 regardless of age. He said the railroad received an outpouring of community support when it announced it was discontinuing the Polar Express, a popular holiday attraction for nearly 15 years.
Last year the Polar Express carried 20,000 riders, 20 percent of the historic rail line’s year-round business.