CTA holiday train 2023 schedule: Here's when and where you can get onboard (2024)

Riders will be able to hop all aboard Chicago's popular holiday train when it hits the tracks for the season next week.

The Chicago Transit Authority has released the festive tradition's complete itinerary, which kicks off on Friday, Nov. 24. The wintertime staple first began on the Blue Line in 1992 with an out-of-service train that delivered food to charities, but it later evolved into the elaborate and beloved spectacle it is now, though it still helps to deliver food baskets to charities around the city.

The CTA holiday bus followed years later in 2014, as the agency transformed a 60-foot bus "into a winter wonderland to say 'thank you' to customers and bring added cheer during the holiday season."

For the first time since 2019, photos with Santa will return to both the holiday train and bus on designated days and times. A CTA employee will take the images using your preferred device, but the photos will be on a first-come, first-served basis and one photo will be allowed per family or groups.

While the train and bus do operate on a schedule for riders, they can fill up quickly.

For those hoping to get on, the CTA offers the following tips:

• Plan ahead and allow extra travel time.You can also track the whereabouts of Santa using CTA TrainTracker, which will indicate the Holiday Train with a candy cane, or by using the dedicatedholiday bus tracker.
  
• Travel light:With many families making the train a part of their holiday traditions, small collapsible strollers are encouraged so that you and others have an opportunity to board the train.
  
• Boarding:The train/bus will become more crowded as it travels down its route; therefore, we recommend customers consider the following:
  • Board at a station/stop close to the beginning of the route. Unlike other in-service trains/buses, many people who board the 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.
  • Train (Only):Railcars toward the front or back of the train will be less crowded compared to those immediately adjacent to Santa’s sleigh.
    
• Taking photos:When taking photos while the train or bus are in service, we recommend the following:
  • Train:If you are planning to ride the train, boardthe train first and then plan to take photos of Santa or the train when exiting at your destination—don't miss your opportunity to board the train!
  • Bus:Riders who wish to take photos with Santa on board the bus are encouraged to do so only when the vehicle is stopped and ideally just before exiting through the rear doors.

See the full schedules for the CTA holiday train and bus below: (Photo opps with Santa are noted using the camera emoji)

2023Allstate CTA Holiday Train schedule All times pm
GreenLine&Orange Line	Fri 11/24Departing: Midwaytoward Loop, then Harlem/Lakeat 3:07 Harlem/Laketo Cottage Grove at 4:31 Cottage Grovetoward Loop, then Midway at 5:51
Green Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 11/25📷Departing: Harlem/Laketo Ashland/63rd at 2:11 Cottage Groveto Harlem/Lake at 3:30
Green Line&Orange Line	Tue 11/28Departing: Midwaytoward Loop, then Harlem/Lakeat 4:01 Harlem/Laketo Ashland/63rd at 5:31 Ashland/63rdtoward Loop, then Midway at 7:06
Orange Line&Brown Line	Wed 11/29Departing: Midwaytoward Loop, then Kimball at 3:07 Kimballtoward Loop, then Midway at 4:41
Orange Line&Brown Line	Thu 11/30Departing: Midwaytoward Loop, then Kimball at 3:53 Kimballtoward Loop, then Midwayat 5:28
Orange Line&Brown Line	Fri 12/1Departing: Midwaytoward Loop, then Kimball at 3:07 Kimballtoward Loop, then Midwayat 4:41
Orange Line&Brown Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 12/2📷Departing: Kimballtoward Loop, then Midwayat 12:53 Midwaytoward Loop, then Kimball at 4:01 Kimballtoward Loop, then Midwayat 6:39
Red Line	Tue 12/5Departing: Howardto95th/Dan Ryan at 2:43 95th/Dan RyantoHoward at 4:19
Purple Line	Wed 12/6Departing: HowardtoLinden at 3:15 Lindento Loop, via express,at 3:50 Loop(from Clark/Lake) to Linden at 4:38 Lindento Howard at 6:00
Red Line	Thu 12/7Departing: Howardto95th/Dan Ryan at 3:13 95th/Dan RyantoHoward at 4:46
Purple Line	Fri 12/8Departing: HowardtoLinden at 3:45 Lindento Loop, via express, at 4:20 Loop(from Clark/Lake) to Linden at 5:07 Lindento Howard at 6:20
Red Line&Purple Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 12/9📷Departing: Howardto95th/Dan Ryan at 12:16 95th/Dan Ryanto Howard at 3:01 Howardto Linden at 4:16 Lindento Howard at 6:31
Pink Line	Tue 12/12Departing: 54th/CermaktoLoop at 2:43 Loop(from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:10 54th/CermaktoLoop at 4:16 Loop(from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 4:43
Pink Line	Wed 12/13Departing: 54th/CermaktoLoop at 3:06 Loop(from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 3:33 54th/CermaktoLoop at 4:44 Loop(from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak at 5:11
Blue Line	Thu 12/14Departing: O'HaretoForest Park at 3:13 Forest ParktoO'Hareat 4:57
Blue Line	Fri 12/15Departing: O'HaretoForest Park at 4:13 Forest ParktoO'Hareat 6:02
Blue Line & Photos with Santa	Sat 12/16📷Departing: Illinois Medical DistricttoForest Park at 3:52 Forest ParktoO'Hareat 3:53
Yellow Line	Thu12/21All trains on Yellow Line will be 2-car Holiday Trains for service departing: Howardfrom 3:08 until 6:53 Dempster-Skokiefrom 3:22 until 7:07