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The holliest, jolliest time of year is right around the corner, bringing with it a beloved Chicago commuter tradition: hopping aboard a train or bus festooned with twinkling lights, commandeered by Santa and his elves and blaring holiday tunes at top volume. That’s right: the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has finally announced the schedules for its Holiday Train and Holiday Bus, revealing when you can expect to see Santa making pre-Christmas Eve journeys through the city.
The CTA Holiday Train will begin running on Friday, November 28, with trips scheduled on every CTA line throughout November and December as part of regular service. As usual, the six-car train will be headlined by an open-air platform hosting Santa and his crew of reindeer, as well as LED signs, colorful interior decorations and more lights than ever before. Photos with Santa have also returned, with designated photo op dates for both the Holiday Train and Bus. Photos will be taken by a CTA employee using your device, so free up some extra storage space for the occasion.
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If you prefer to experience holiday cheer at street level, you’ll be happy to learn that the CTA Holiday Bus will make an appearance on a whopping 19 routes throughout the city this year. This year’s bus will be adorned by a jovial wrap featuring Chicago landmarks, nods to Christkindlmarket and gingerbread house-inspired details. The bus’s interior will be covered with wreaths, candy cane striping and a revamped “Gingerbread Court” helmed by Santa’s chair in the back of the bus.
Want CTA Holiday Train and Bus updates down to the minute? Use the Holiday Bus Tracker to figure out its exact location. Learn more about the holiday fleet via the CTA website.
Train schedule
- Green Line: November 28, 29; December 2
- Brown Line: December 3–6
- Orange Line: November 28; December 2–6
- Red Line: December 16, 18 and 20
- Purple Line: December 17, 19 and 20
- Pink Line: December 9, 10 and 13
- Blue Line: December 11–13
- Yellow Line: December 22
Bus schedule
- November 25, 26: #56 Milwaukee
- November 28: #22 Clark
- November 29: #22 Clark / #97 Skokie
- November 30: #91 Austin / #81 Lawrence
- December 2: #74 Fullerton
- December 3: #53 Pulaski
- December 4: #20 Madison
- December 5: #126 Jackson
- December 6: #12 Roosevelt
- December 9: #62 Archer
- December 10: #49 Western / #X49 Western Express
- December 11: #79 79th
- December 12: #3 King Drive
- December 13: #4 Cottage Grove
- December 16: #28 Stony Island
- December 17: #J14 Jeffrey Jump
- December 18: #6 Jackson Park
- December 19 & 20: #29 State