Ride the CTA Holiday Train

Photo courtesy of CTA

One of the things that make the holidays in Chicago extra special is the CTA Holiday Train. For 33 years, a festive train carrying Santa and his reindeer runs through all of the CTA lines carrying joy and food baskets to Chicago community organizations.

The train runs from November 29, 2024, through December 23, 2024. See below for the schedule.

The CTA Holiday Train will feature Santa and his sleigh in an open-air, flat car carrying his reindeer and twinkling Christmas trees. The outside of the six-car train is adorned with holiday seasonal images, thousands of twinkling lights with even more lights running across the tops of the cars.

Photo courtesy of Verbs & Vision Media

The interiors are decked out with multi-colored lights, red bows, garlands, and red and green overhead lighting. Santa’s helpers walk through the train handing out candy canes and good cheer.

As the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to the boarding passengers from his sleigh and passengers can take photos with him as they exit the train.

Here is the Holiday Train schedule:

Green Line & Orange Line	Fri 11/29 Departing: Midway toward Loop, then Harlem/Lake at 3:07 Harlem/Lake to Cottage Grove at 4:31 Cottage Grove toward Loop, then Midway at 5:51
Green Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 11/30 📷Departing: Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 2:31 Cottage Grove to Harlem/Lake at 3:30
Green Line & Orange Line	Tue 12/3 Departing: Midway toward Loop, then Harlem/Lake at 4:01 Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 5:31 Ashland/63rd toward Loop, then Midway at 7:06
Orange Line & Brown Line	Wed 12/4 Departing: Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 3:07 Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 4:41
Orange Line & Brown Line	Thu 12/5 Departing: Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 3:53 Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 5:28
Orange Line & Brown Line	Fri 12/6 Departing: Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 3:07 Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 4:40
Orange Line & Brown Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 12/7 📷 Departing: Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 1:13 Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 4:21 Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 6:39
Pink Line	Tue 12/10 Departing: 54th/Cermak to Loop at 2:43 Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:10 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:16 Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 4:43
Pink Line	Wed 12/11 Departing: 54th/Cermak to Loop at 3:06 Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:33 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:44 Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 5:11
Blue Line	Thu 12/12 Departing: O’Hare to Forest Park at 3:13 Forest Park to O’Hare 4:57
Blue Line	Fri 12/13 Departing: O’Hare to Forest Park at 4:13 Forest Park to O’Hare 6:02
Blue Line & Pink Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 12/14 📷 Departing: Racine to Forest Park at 2:10 Forest Park to O’Hare at 4:03
Red Line	Tue 12/17 Departing: Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 2:43 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:19
Purple Line	Wed 12/18 Departing: Howard to Linden at 3:15 Linden to Loop, via express, at 3:50 Loop (from Clark/Lake) to Linden at 4:54 Linden to Howard at 6:00
Red Line	Thu 12/19 Departing: Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 3:13 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:46
Purple Line	Fri 12/20 Departing: Howard to Linden at 3:45 Linden to Loop, via express, at 4:20 Loop (from Merchandise Mart) to Linden at 5:21 Linden to Howard at 6:20
Red Line & Purple Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 12/21 📷 Departing: Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 12:36 95th/Dan Ryan to Linden at 3:21 Linden to Howard at 6:51
Yellow Line	Mon 12/23 All trains on Yellow Line will be 2-car Holiday Trains for service departing: Howard from 3:08 until 6:53 Dempster-Skokie from 3:31 until 7:16

If you don’t ride the train, there’s also a CTA Holiday Bus. Santa perches on the roof hatch of the bus and waves. Holiday music plays and the bus exterior is decorated with Santa and his reindeer on a roof. Here is the CTA Holiday Bus schedule:

Route	Date in service	Departure times
#56 Milwaukee	Tue 11/26	Approx. 11:50a until 5p
#56 Milwaukee	Wed 11/27 📷	Approx. 11:50a until 5:45p Photos at Jefferson Park Approx. 3:00p-4:00p
#22 Clark	Fri 11/29	Approx. 12:40p until 7:45p
#22 Clark/ #97 Skokie	Sat 11/30 📷	Approx. 12:30p until 7:00p Photos at Old Orchard Mall Approx. 1:30p-2:30p
#91 Austin/ #92 Foster	Sun 12/1 📷	Approx. 12:00p until 6:30p Photos at Jeff Park Approx. 2:00p-3:00p
#74 Fullerton	Tue 12/3	Approx. 12:15p until 6:30p
#66 Chicago	Wed 12/4 📷	Approx. 11:45a until 7:00p Photos at Navy Pier Approx. 4:20p-5:20p
#66 Chicago	Thu 12/5	Approx. 12:20p until 7:30p
#126 Jackson	Fri 12/6 📷	Approx. 12:30p until 7:05p Photos at Jackson/Austin Approx. 3:10p-4:10p
#12 Roosevelt	Sat 12/7 📷	Approx. 12:15p until 7:45p Photos at Harrison/Central Approx. 2:30p-3:30p
#62 Archer	Tue 12/10 📷	Approx. 12:25p until 5:45p Photos at Midway Approx. 1:50p-2:50p
#49 Western #X49 Western Exp.	Wed 12/11 📷	Approx. 12:20p until 6:30p Photos at 79/Western Approx. 3:50p-4:50p
#3 King Drive	Thu 12/12	Approx. 12:55p until 5:15p
#3 King Drive	Fri 12/13	Approx. 12:55p until 8:00p
#79 79th	Sat 12/14 📷	Approx. 12:10p until 5:00p Photos at Ford City Approx. 4:00p-5:00p
#28 Stony Island	Tue 12/17 📷	Approx. 12:40p until 6:50p Photos at Union Station Approx. 4:30p-5:30p
#J14 Jeffrey Jump	Wed 12/18	Approx. 11:45a until 6:50p
#6 Jackson Park	Thu 12/19	Approx. 2:30p until 5:00p
#29 State	Fri 12/20	Approx. 2:20p until 5:45p
#29 State	Sat 12/21 📷	Approx. 12:15p until 7:30p Photos at Navy Pier Approx. 1:50p-2:50p

📷 = Photos with Santa days

Both the train and bus are in-service vehicles that operate as part of regular service; therefore, they cannot dwell at stations/stops for long periods of time. While every effort is made to accommodate riders, space is limited and boarding is not guaranteed.

To ensure everyone has an opportunity to see and take part in this annual tradition, here are a few suggested tips to make the most of your experience:

Plan ahead and allow extra travel time. You can also track the whereabouts of Santa using CTA Train Tracker, which will indicate the Holiday Train with a candy cane, or by using the dedicated holiday bus tracker.
Travel light: With many families making the train a part of their holiday traditions, small collapsible strollers are encouraged so that you and others have an opportunity to board the train.
Boarding: The train/bus will become more crowded as it travels down its route; therefore, we recommend customers consider the following:
- Board at a station/stop close to the beginning of the route. Unlike other in-service trains/buses, many people who board the train or bus often stay on board until it reaches the end of its route—and will then take it back home if it is scheduled to make a return trip.
- Train (Only): Railcars toward the front or back of the train will be less crowded compared to those immediately adjacent to Santa’s sleigh.
Taking photos: When taking photos while the train or bus are in service, we recommend the following:
- Train: If you are planning to ride the train, board the train first and then plan to take photos of Santa or the train when exiting at your destination—don’t miss your opportunity to board the train!
- Bus: Riders who wish to take photos with Santa on board the bus are encouraged to do so only when the vehicle is stopped and ideally just before exiting through the rear doors.

You can also use the Holiday Bus tracker to keep track of the bus schedule. Normal CTA fares of $2.50 for the train and $2.25 for the bus apply, which is a real bargain when you consider that it’s transportation and entertainment.