CTA Announces Holiday Train and Bus Schedules for 2025; Metra Holiday Train Tickets Sold Out

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CTA Announces Holiday Train and Bus Schedules for 2025; Metra Holiday Train Tickets Sold Out

Eunice Alpasan | November 17, 2025, 12:57 pm

(Courtesy of Chicago Transit Authority)

Santa and his elves will soon be back on CTA trains and buses this holiday season.

The beloved holiday tradition will return starting next week and run through late December, the Chicago Transit Authority announced Monday.

“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,” CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a news release.

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CTA holiday trains will run Nov. 28-Dec. 22 with Saturday dates offering an opportunity to take photos with Santa during designated times.

Holiday buses will run Nov. 25-Dec. 20 across 19 bus routes. Visit the CTA’s website for more details on bus routes and times.

Holiday Train Schedule

Friday, Nov. 28 (Green Line & Orange Line) Departing: Midway toward the Loop, then Harlem/Lake, at 3:50 p.m. Harlem/Lake to Cottage Grove at 5:29 p.m. Cottage Grove toward the Loop, then Midway, at 7:07 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29 (Green Line; Photos with Santa) Departing: Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 2:32 p.m. Cottage Grove to Harlem/Lake at 5:47 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 2 (Green Line & Orange Line) Departing: Midway toward the Loop, then Harlem/Lake, at 3:50 p.m. Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 5:29 p.m. Ashland/63rd toward the Loop, then Midway, at 7:03 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 (Orange Line & Brown Line) Departing: Midway toward the Loop, then Kimball, at 3:08 p.m. Kimball toward the Loop, then Midway, at 4:41 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4 (Orange Line & Brown Line) Departing: Midway toward the Loop, then Kimball, at 3:53 p.m. Kimball toward the Loop, then Midway, at 5:28 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5 (Orange Line & Brown Line) Departing: Midway toward the Loop, then Kimball, at 3:08 p.m. Kimball toward the Loop, then Midway, at 4:41 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 (Orange Line & Brown Line; Photos with Santa) Departing: Kimball toward the Loop, then Midway, at 1:13 p.m. Midway toward the Loop, then Kimball, at 4:21 p.m. Kimball toward the Loop, then Midway, at 5:50 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 (Pink Line) Departing: 54th/Cermak to Loop at 2:46 p.m. Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:08 p.m. 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:11 p.m. Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 4:48 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 10 (Pink Line) Departing: 54th/Cermak to the Loop at 3:06 p.m. Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:33 p.m. 54th/Cermak to the Loop at 4:53 p.m. Loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11 (Blue Line) Departing: O’Hare to Forest Park at 4:17 p.m. Forest Park to O’Hare at 6:56 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12 (Blue Line) Departing: O’Hare to Forest Park at 4:13 p.m. Forest Park to O’Hare at 6:02 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13 (Blue Line & Pink Line; Photos with Santa) Departing: Racine to Forest Park at 2:08 p.m. Forest Park to O’Hare at 3:56 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 16 (Red Line) Departing: Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 2:43 p.m. 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:19 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 17 (Purple Line) Departing: Howard to Linden at 3:15 p.m. Linden to Loop, via express, at 3:50 p.m. Loop (from Merchandise Mart) to Linden at 4:53 p.m. Linden to Howard at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18 (Red Line) Departing: Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 3:13 p.m. 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:46 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 (Purple Line) Departing: Howard to Linden at 3:45 p.m. Linden to Loop, via express, at 4:20 p.m. Loop (from Merchandise Mart) to Linden at 5:23 p.m. Linden to Howard at 6:20 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 (Red Line & Purple Line; Photos with Santa) Departing: 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.
Monday, Dec. 22 (Yellow Line) All trains on Yellow Line will be two-car holiday trains for service. Departing: Howard from 3:08 p.m. until 6:53 p.m. Dempster-Skokie from 3:31 p.m. until 7:16 p.m.

The CTA is celebrating its 34th year of the holiday train tradition.

The holiday train features six decorated passenger railcars and one open flatcar carrying Santa in his sleigh, along with sparkling lights, Christmas trees and Santa’s reindeer.

Buses have a new design this year. The 60-foot festive fleet features an exterior wrap showcasing the Christkindlmarket, alongside iconic city landmarks. The bus also features a refreshed interior design with a gingerbread house-themed layout, wreaths, bows, candy cane striping and a miniature gingerbread village, according to a news release.

You’ll know this bus is near when you hear holiday music playing and a jolly “Ho-ho-ho!” from down the street. Santa will be greeting riders from the roof hatch of the bus.

Holiday buses will run on the following routes: #56 Milwaukee, #22 Clark, #97 Skokie, #91 Austin, #81 Lawrence, #74 Fullerton, #53 Pulaski, #20 Madison, #126 Jackson, #12 Roosevelt, #62 Archer, #49 Western, #X49 Western Exp., #79 79th, #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #28 Stony Island, #J14 Jeffrey Jump, #6 Jackson Park, #29 State.

Some bus routes have photo opportunities at designated locations during certain times. View the full holiday bus schedule on CTA’s website.

The holiday trains and buses operate as part of regular service, and can’t stay at stations and stops for long periods of time. CTA suggested these tips to make the most of your experience:

Plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Use the CTA train tracker, which will indicate the holiday train with a candy cane. There’s also a dedicated holiday bus tracker.
Try boarding at a station or stop close to the beginning of the route. Many people who board the holiday train or bus often stay on board until it reaches the end of its route, and will then take it back home if it is scheduled to make a return trip.
Travel light. Small collapsible strollers are encouraged to make room for as many holiday passengers as possible.
Taking photos? Board the train first and then plan to take photos of Santa or the train when exiting at your destination, so you don’t miss your opportunity to board the train.
Want to avoid crowding on trains? The railcars toward the front or back of the train tend to be less crowded compared to those immediately next to Santa’s sleigh.

Metra Holiday Trains

Metra will also be operating its holiday trains on Dec. 6, 13 and 20.

Tickets went on sale at noon Monday but sold out within four minutes, according to a Metra spokesperson. Metra does not plan on adding more holiday train tickets.

The Metra holiday trains will run on five lines: the Metra Electric, BNSF, Milwaukee District West, Rock Island, and Union Pacific Northwest lines. A Metra Electric Line ticket includes a visit to a North Pole winter wonderland at Millennium Station, complete with treats, games and face painting.

Holiday trains will also be used for regular service during December, according to Metra.

Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Metra holiday train tickets sold out.