One of Chicago’s most cherished Christmas traditions is currently gracing the city.
Santa’s holiday train trip around Chicago is always one of the most eagerly anticipated activities providing affordable fun for people all over the city. The Chicago Transit Authority’s train and bus are decorated inside and out with festive decorations and thousands of lights to make them glow as they glide and glimmer around Chicago.
Now in its 32nd year of operation, the Allstate CTA Holiday Train and the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus began lighting up Chicago for another holiday season at the end of November and is now in the last week of its 2023 schedule.
In those times of darkness Santa and his elves still showed up all over Chicago greeting onlookers from afar and spreading the holiday cheer no matter the trials and tribulations of the time.
Returning to normal last year, families could once again ride the holiday train like days of old, and this year we’ve been treated to more of the same.
Jump on board or wave at Santa and his reindeer as he whizzes around all 8 lines in his open-air sleigh through to Tuesday, December 21.
The train will of course this year continue its decades-old tradition of donating food baskets to local community organizations throughout the city while it whizzes around Chicagoland simultaneously delivering “joy and the holiday spirit to thousands of riders”.
Below is a breakdown of information taken from the Chicago Transit Authority website:
2023 CTA Holiday Train Schedule
- Monday, December 11: No Holiday Train
- Tuesday, December 12: Pink Line
Departing:
– 54th/Cermak to Loop at 2:43 pm
– Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:10 pm
– 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:16 pm
– Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 4:43 pm - Wednesday, December 13:
Departing:
– 54th/Cermak to Loop at 3:06 pm
– Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:33 pm
– 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:44 pm
– Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 5:11 m
- Thursday, December 14: Blue Line
Departing:
– O’Hare to Forest Park at 3:13 pm
– Forest Park to O’Hare at 4:57 pm - Friday, December 15: Blue Line
Departing:
– O’Hare to Forest Park at 4:13 pm
– Forest Park to O’Hare at 6:02 pm
- Saturday: December 16: Blue Line + photos with Santa
Departing:
– Illinois Medical District to Forest Park at 3:52 pm
– Forest Park to O’Hare at 3:53 pm - Thursday, December 21: Yellow Line Skokie Swift Bird
– Howard from 3:08 until 6:53
– Dempster-Skokie from 3:22 until 7:07
(All trains on the Yellow Line will be 2-car Holiday Trains)
2023 CTA Holiday Bus Schedule
- December 12: #62 Archer
- December 13-14: #49 Western / #X49 Western Express
- December 15-16: #3 King Drive
- December 19: #79 79th
- December 20: #28 Stony Island
- December 21: #29 State
- December 22: #J14 Jeffery Jump
More information can be found at www.transitchicago.com/holidayfleet as well as a holiday bus tracker.