11/22/02
The Chicago Transit Authority is gearing up for the holidays and putting the finishing touches on the 2002 edition of its popular Holiday Train. Now in its 11th year, the train operates throughout the CTA rail system spreading holiday cheer to CTA customers.
Decorated with 35,000 lights, the six-car train features a flat car in the middle that carries Santa and his reindeer. Car interiors are decked out with bows, garland, red and green lighting and hand poles wrapped to look like candy canes. The exterior is wrapped in a vinyl material depicting a holiday theme.
The train will make this year's debut on the Red and Purple Lines on the weekend of November 23 and 24 and will transport customers to the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Saturday, November 23. The Holiday Train will roll into the Loop Friday afternoon, November 29 in time for the lighting of Chicago's Holiday Tree in Daley Center Plaza. Customers paying regular fares are invited to ride the train, which will make stops at all nine Loop elevated stations over Lake, Wells, Van Buren and Wabash.
The Holiday Train will travel various CTA rail lines during weekends in December. It will run between approximately 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (schedules for each individual line will vary somewhat) and will make stops at all stations along the respective routes:
November 30 - December 1 Blue Line
December 14 - 15 Green Line
December 21 - 22 Brown and Orange Lines
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