GLEN ELLYN, Ill., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Organizers of a ride inspired by the book "Polar Express" say they'll refund money to about 150 people denied access to the train in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
The 150 parents and children, some in pajamas, had tickets to board a special Metra train Saturday, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.
The families were to enjoy food treats and a reading of the book as the train took them to meet Santa Claus at the Elburn stop in Kane County.
The conductor of a train arriving at the designated time said his was the wrong train and told the families to wait for another train, which never arrived, said Kaili Harding, of Wheaton, Ill., who had to tell her 3-year-old daughter they wouldn't be seeing Santa.
"You spend all this time building them up and getting them excited, and then it falls flat," Harding told The Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald.
Officials of the Glen Ellyn Park District, which organized the event, said they had yet to sort out what happened with the train Saturday. In the meantime, the families were to have ticket money refunded while organizers worked to reschedule the event, Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile said.
