Santa Claus is coming to town—and to the “L” system!
The annual Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) holiday fleet is back this month, in partnership with Allstate.
For four weeks in the lead up to Christmas, the CTA will bring holiday cheer to all train lines and select bus routes.
Here’s a look at the 2025 schedule!
CTA holiday train schedule
The CTA holiday train will make the rounds across all 8 train lines beginning Saturday, November 29. Here’s where the train will be and when:
- Green Line
- Saturday, November 29
- Harlem/Lake: 1pm –2pm
- Ashland/63rd: 3:35pm – 4:05pm, then departs without passengers
- Cottage Grove: 4:45pm – 5:20pm
- Brown and Orange Lines
- Saturday, December 6
- Kimball (Brown Line): 11:30am – 12:45pm
- Midway (Orange Line): 2:25pm – 3:45pm
- Pink Line
- Saturday, December 13
- 54th/Cermak (Pink Line): 12:30pm to 1:20pm, then departs without passengers
- Blue Line
- Saturday, December 13
- Forest Park (Blue Line): 2:45pm to 3:40pm
- O’Hare (Blue Line): 5:45pm to 6:45pm
- Red and Purple Lines
- Saturday, December 20
- Howard (Red Line): 11:15am to 12pm
- 95th (Red Line): 1:45pm to 2:45pm
- Linden (Purple Line): 5pm to 6:15pm
CTA holiday bus schedule
The holiday cheer is also coming to 19 Chicago bus routes this month beginning November 25.
This year’s bus will feature new decorations including an exterior wrap depicting the iconic Christkindlmarket, along with other prominent local landmarks like Navy Pier’s Ferris wheel, the Bean, and more.
Holiday buses will also feature an updated interior decorative display complete with a gingerbread house-themed layout, candy cane striping, and a special Santa’s chair in the rear section.
Click here to view the full holiday bus schedule.
“The Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet is one of CTA’s and Chicago’s most beloved and unique traditions, and I’m proud that our employees bring it to life each year,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen in a statement.
“The Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet reflects the creativity, commitment, and heart of CTA’s workforce, who work hard every day to make our riders’ holidays a magical and memorable experience.”