Santa and his helpers return to bring festive magic to Chicago’s transit riders
Santa Claus is coming to town! And, once again, he and his elves will be giving the reindeer a breather as they hop aboard the CTA to spread holiday cheer across Chicagoland.
The CTA is pleased to unveil the service schedule for the 2025 Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet, where the joyfully decorated train and bus will begin their journeys delighting children and adult riders alike, starting the week of Thanksgiving.
“The Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet is one of CTA’s and Chicago’s most beloved and unique traditions, and I’m proud that our employees bring it to life each year,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “The Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet reflects the creativity, commitment, and heart of CTA’s workforce, who work hard every day to make our riders’ holidays a magical and memorable experience.”
Allstate CTA Holiday Bus
Starting Tuesday, November 25, the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus returns brighter than ever, with a newly updated design for 2025. This year’s 60-foot festive fleet features an exterior wrap showcasing Chicago’s Christkindlmarket, alongside iconic city landmarks including Navy Pier’s Ferris wheel, the Bean, Buckingham Fountain, and The Picasso in Daley Plaza.
The 2025 Allstate CTA Holiday Bus also features a refreshed interior design, greeting riders with a gingerbread house-themed layout, wreaths, bows, candy cane striping, a miniature gingerbread village, and this year’s centerpiece: A completely updated Gingerbread Court with Santa’s chair in the rear of the bus.
Operating as part of regular service November 25 through December 20, the bus will travel across 19 routes this year, two more than in 2024.
Allstate CTA Holiday Train
Now entering its 34th year of operation, the iconic Allstate CTA Holiday Train will merrily roll along all eight rail lines this season, launching from the Midway Orange Line station Friday, November 28.
The Allstate CTA Holiday Train features six decorated passenger railcars and one open flatcar carrying Santa in his sleigh, framed by sparkling lights, Christmas trees, and his trusted reindeer.
True to its roots, the Allstate Holiday Train will continue to support CTA’s long-standing tradition of giving back. CTA employees generously donate time and resources to assemble and deliver food baskets to local charities -- a tradition that helped launch a holiday train in 1992.
Customers looking to catch a ride or a picture can follow the Allstate CTA Holiday Train as it travels all eight rail lines this holiday season via the CTA Train Tracker: transitchicago.com/traintracker. Look for the candy cane icon to find the Holiday Train and when it might be getting close to your neighborhood station.
Don’t miss your chance to ride aboard the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus with Santa, use transitchicago.com/holidaybustracker to see its whereabouts in real-time while it is in service during scheduled hours.
The Allstate CTA Holiday Train and Bus will serve all scheduled stops along their routes. Standard CTA fares apply. For schedules and additional details, please visit transitchicago.com/holiday.