CTA

Oh, What Fun it is to Ride and Sing on the CTA Holiday Train!

November 21, 2012
Dashing through the snow and over the rail lines they go, Santa and his reindeer will begin their annual visit to Chicago starting Friday, November 23, on the CTA Holiday Train—now in its 21st year. The CTA Holiday Train is a festive and one-of-a-kind tradition that’s unique to Chicago and is a fun way to enjoy the city during the holiday season.
 
Santa and his helpers will travel in his sleigh on an open flat car that is pulled by a six-car CTA train. Customers are invited to ride inside the cars, which are decorated with multi-colored lights, bows and garland and feature holiday music.
 
The Holiday Train’s first destination is the Green Line. The train will travel along all CTA rail lines throughout November and December as part of its regular rail service and normal CTA fares apply. Schedules for each individual line are listed below and are subject to change.
 
RAIL LINE
DATE(S)
Green Line
November 23, 24 & 28
Orange/Brown Lines
November 29-30 & December 1
Pink Line
December 5
Blue Line
December 6, 7 & 8
Red Line
December 12, 14 & 18
Purple Line
December 13 & 19
Red/Purple Lines
December 15 & 22
Yellow Line
December 20
 
Each year CTA staff work with Santa to ensure customers enjoy their ride on the Holiday Train. CTA personnel also generously donate cash to buy and prepare food baskets for needy families that are distributed each year to selected community groups.
 
Detailed timetables for the Holiday Train are posted on CTA’s website at transitchicago.com/holidaytrain. For information about all other CTA routes and schedules, call 312-836-7000 or visit the website.
 
# # #
 
Back to news
System status snapshot
‘L’ route status
Red Line
Normal Service
Brown Line
Normal Service
Green Line
Normal Service
Orange Line
Normal Service
Pink Line
Normal Service
Purple Line
Normal Service
Yellow Line
Normal Service
Bus routes w/alerts
Elevator alerts