CTA Holiday Train brings festive fun to Chicago for 34th year
CHICAGO (WGN) — Santa Claus has arrived in Chicago aboard the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Holiday Train. Now in its 34th year, the festive rides are officially underway.
Families eager for holiday fun lined up at the Midway Orange Line Station on Friday, with parents ready to share a special experience with their kids.
The tradition started in 1992 when the holiday train debuted on the Blue Line, delivering food to charities across the city. Today, kids and parents are excited to see Santa waving from his open-air flatcar carrying his reindeer.
Nine-year-old twins Christian and Landon have ridden every year since they were one. Their excitement is exactly what organizers of the CTA Holiday Train look forward to each season.
“We all enjoy getting the train ready for Santa and getting it ready to go out. If you haven’t ridden it, you definitely need to come out and do it,” said Jeannine Messina of the CTA.
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Messina says elves will hand out 200,000 candy canes to riders this season. While the ride is all about holiday fun, it also serves as a chance for the CTA to give back.
“We still collect money from the employees to buy food baskets for organizations throughout the Chicagoland area to help them during the holiday season,” Messina said.
CTA announces schedule for holiday train, bus
The holiday train schedule is below, per the CTA.
11/28 — Green & Orange Line.Departs Midway toward Loop then Harlem/Lake at 3:50 p.m. Harlem/Lake to Cottage Grove at 5:29 p.m. Cottage Grove toward Loop, then Midway at 7:07 p.m.11/29 — Green Line.Departs Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 2:32 p.m. Cottage Grove to Harlem/Lake at 5:47 p.m.12/2 — Green & Orange Line.Departs Midway toward Loop, then Harlem/Lake at 3:50 p.m. Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd at 5:29 p.m. Ashland/63rd toward Loop, then Midway at 7:03 p.m.12/3 — Orange & Brown Line.Departs Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 3:08 p.m. Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 4:41 p.m.12/4—Orange & Brown Line. Departs Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 3:53 p.m. Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 5:28 p.m.12/6 — Orange & Brown Line (photos with Santa).Departs Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 1:13 p.m. Midway toward Loop, then Kimball at 4:21 p.m. Kimball toward Loop, then Midway at 5:50 p.m.12/9 — Pink Line.Departs 54th/Cermak to Loop at 2:46 p.m., Loop to 54th and Cermak at 3:08 p.m. 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:11 p.m. Loop to 54th/Cermak at 4:48 p.m.12/10 — Pink Line.Departs 54th/Cermak at 3:06 p.m. Loop to 54th/Cermak at 3:33 p.m. 54th/Cermak to Loop at 4:53 p.m. Loop to 54th/Cermak at 5:15 p.m.12/11 — Blue Line.Departs O’Hare to Forest Park at 4:17 p.m. Forest Park to O’Hare at 6:56 p.m.12/12 — Blue Line. Departs O’Hare to Forest Park at 4:13 p.m. Forest Park to O’Hare at 6:02 p.m.12/13 — Blue Line & Pink Line (photos with Santa).Departs Racine to Forest Park at 2:08 p.m. Forest Park to O’Hare at 3:56 p.m.12/16 — Red Line.Departs Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 2:43 p.m. 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:19 p.m.12/17 — Purple Line.Departs Howard to Linden at 3:15 p.m. Linden to Loop at 3:50 p.m. Loop to Linden at 4:53 p.m. Linden to Howard at 6 p.m.12/18 — Red Line.Departs Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan at 3:13 p.m. 95th/Dan Ryan to Howard at 4:46 p.m.12/19 — Purple Line.Departs Howard to Linden at 3:45 p.m. Linden to Loop at 4:20 p.m. Loop to Linden at 5:23 p.m. Linden to Howard at 6:20 p.m.12/20 — Red & Purple Line (photos with Santa).Departs 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.12/22 — Yellow Line.All trains on Yellow Line will be 2-car holiday trains. Departs Howard from 3:08 p.m. to 6:53 p.m. Departs Dempster-Skokie from 3:31 p.m. until 7:16 p.m.
The full bus schedule is at the CTA’s website. The agency recommends using the holiday bus tracker.
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