You can tell it’s the holidays in Chicagoland when even the trains start dressing up: This year, Metra has kicked the seasonal cheer up a notch, expanding its Holiday Train across all five lines so no commuter is spared the tinsel-festooned LED glow of yuletide cheer on rails. And you’d better embrace that wintertime joy quick—tickets for the festive railcars go on sale this Friday.
“Our Holiday Trains have become an annual tradition for our riders and their families, and we are happy to be operating them again,” Jim Derwinski, CEO and executive director of Metra said in a press release. “It’s our way to spread a little holiday joy and thank our riders for making Metra part of their lives all year.”
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Every year, Metra transforms its hyper-neutral railcars into vestiges of a winter wonderland. Stanchions are transformed into candy canes, wreaths crown the glazed glass windows and the whole ride is commandeered by Santa and a crew of trusty elves. Passengers will share a train car with clusters of pint-sized Christmas trees while the sound of holiday music streams through the train's speakers.
This year, Metra Holiday Train will appear on all of its train lines—ensuring that every Chicagoan and suburbanite, naughty or nice, can bask in its seasonal sparkle. The holiday train schedule is as follows:
- Dec 6: Milwaukee District West and BNSF lines
- Dec 13: Metra Electric, Rock Island and UP Northwest lines
- Dec 20: Metra Electric Line
On all dates and train lines, passengers have two options: One, they can ride back to their starting point for a smooth round trip; or, for those who want to spend the day downtown, they can redeem their holiday train ticket for any scheduled return train that same day. For those passing through Millennium Station, the HB Threads booth—which provides employment opportunities, job training and life skills development for those with disabilities—will be creating free buttons for all Holiday Train riders.
If you aren’t able to hop on the Midwest’s version of the Polar Express, don’t fret: Several downtown train stations’ halls will be fully decked with festive decor, and the Holiday Trains will be used during regular service throughout December.
Tickets for Metra’s Holiday Train will go on sale via Metra’s website at noon on Friday, November 17. Best to set those alarms, as tickets are expected to sell out faster than Santa’s sleigh.