Santa ditches sleigh for CTA holiday train and bus options

Chicagoans can celebrate the season in style as the CTA’s much-loved Holiday Train and Bus return this year. Starting Nov. 26 for buses and Nov. 29 for trains, these festively decorated vehicles will bring joy across the city’s transit lines. The Allstate-sponsored Holiday Train is a six-car marvel filled with twinkling lights, holiday decor, and appearances by Santa Claus himself. As the train and bus make their rounds, CTA staff will also deliver food baskets to local charities, spreading goodwill along with festive cheer.  

A fan-favorite tradition, the holiday fleet features opportunities for families to capture magical moments with Santa. Riders can take photos at designated stations, with CTA staff on hand to assist using their own devices. Props will be available to make snapshots even more festive, though photos are first-come, first-served with a limit of one prop per family.

This cherished event celebrates its 33rd year, creating lasting memories while bringing a touch of holiday magic to Chicago’s transit system. Check out the schedule below to plan your festive ride. To see the full schedule of buses and photos with Santa, visit the CTA web site. 

Holiday Train Schedule 

Green Line & Orange Line

• Fri, Nov. 29:

• Midway to Loop, then Harlem/Lake at 3:07 p.m.

• Harlem/Lake to Cottage Grove at 4:31 p.m.

• Cottage Grove to Loop, then Midway at 5:51 p.m.

Green Line (Photos with Santa)

• Sat, Nov. 30:

• Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 2:31 p.m.

• Cottage Grove to Harlem/Lake at 3:30 p.m.

Green Line & Orange Line

• Tue, Dec. 3:

• Midway to Loop, then Harlem/Lake at 4:01 p.m.

• Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 5:31 p.m.

• Ashland/63rd to Loop, then Midway at 7:06 p.m.

Orange Line & Brown Line

• Wed, Dec. 4:

• Midway to Loop, then Kimball at 3:07 p.m.

• Kimball to Loop, then Midway at 4:41 p.m.

• Thu, Dec. 5:

• Midway to Loop, then Kimball at 3:53 p.m.

• Kimball to Loop, then Midway at 5:28 p.m.

• Fri, Dec. 6:

• Midway to Loop, then Kimball at 3:07 p.m.

• Kimball to Loop, then Midway at 4:40 p.m.

Orange Line & Brown Line (Photos with Santa)

• Sat, Dec. 7:

• Kimball to Loop, then Midway at 1:13 p.m.

• Midway to Loop, then Kimball at 4:21 p.m.

• Kimball to Loop, then Midway at 6:39 p.m.

Pink Line

• Tue, Dec. 10:

• 54th/Cermak to Loop at 2:43 p.m.

• Loop to 54th/Cermak at 3:10 p.m.

• 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:16 p.m.

• Loop to 54th/Cermak at 4:43 p.m.

• Wed, Dec. 11:

• 54th/Cermak to Loop at 3:06 p.m.

• Loop to 54th/Cermak at 3:33 p.m.

• 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:44 p.m.

• Loop to 54th/Cermak at 5:11 p.m.

Blue Line

• Thu, Dec. 12:

• O'Hare to Forest Park at 3:13 p.m.

• Forest Park to O'Hare at 4:57 p.m.

• Fri, Dec. 13:

• O'Hare to Forest Park at 4:13 p.m.

• Forest Park to O'Hare at 6:02 p.m.

• Sat, Dec. 14:

• Racine to Forest Park at 2:10 p.m.

• Forest Park to O'Hare at 4:03 p.m.

Red Line

• Tue, Dec. 17:

• Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 2:43 p.m.

• 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:19 p.m.

Purple Line

• Wed, Dec. 18:

• Howard to Linden at 3:15 p.m.

• Linden to Loop (via express) at 3:50 p.m.

• Loop to Linden at 4:54 p.m.

• Linden to Howard at 6:00 p.m.

Red Line

• Thu, Dec. 19:

• Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 3:13 p.m.

• 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:46 p.m.

Purple Line

• Fri, Dec. 20:

• Howard to Linden at 3:45 p.m.

• Linden to Loop (via express) at 4:20 p.m.

• Loop to Linden at 5:21 p.m.

• Linden to Howard at 6:20 p.m.

Red Line & Purple Line (Photos with Santa)

• Sat, Dec. 21:

• Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 12:36 p.m.

• 95th/Dan Ryan to Linden at 3:21 p.m.

• Linden to Howard at 6:51 p.m.

Yellow Line

• Mon, Dec. 23:

• Holiday trains departing Howard (3:08–6:53 p.m.)

• Holiday trains departing Dempster-Skokie (3:31–7:16 p.m.)