You better not cry, you better not pout: The CTA Holiday Train and Bus will still roll through Chicago this year, but no passengers will be allowed on the festive fleet. Santa and his gaggle of elves and reindeer are playing it safe this year to ensure Chicagoans have a healthy holiday season.
"Each year, customers of all ages look forward to the arrival of the CTA Holiday Train and Bus," says CTA president Dorval R. Carter, Jr. in a press release. "Because our No. 1 priority is the health and safety of our customers and employees, we wanted to find a way to spread holiday cheer across the city, but do so responsibly. Though customers won’t be able to get on board, we know that seeing the CTA Holiday Train and Bus in neighborhoods throughout the city will bring much-needed smiles, joy and hope for everyone."
The festive six-car locomotive will roll through CTA stations throughout the city from November 27 through December 21. The train is decked out in twinkling holiday lights, with Santa and his reindeer riding outside to wave at families. The CTA Holiday Bus will hit the road on December 1 and make its rounds through December 24. When he rides the decked-out bus, Santa prefers to pop up through the roof, so be sure to look up. Take a look at the full CTA Holiday Train and Bus schedule below to catch a glimpse of holiday magic this season:
Train schedule
- Green Line: November 27, 28; December 1
- Brown Line: December 2–5
- Orange Line: December 2–5
- Red Line: December 8, 10 and 12
- Purple Line: December 9, 11 and 12
- Pink Line: December 15, 16 and 19
- Blue Line: December 17–19
- Yellow Line: December 21
Bus schedule
- December 1, 2: #56 Milwaukee
- December 3: #91 Austin/#92 Foster
- December 4: #22 Clark
- December 5: #22 Clark/#97 Skokie
- December 8, 9: #66 Chicago
- December 10: #126 Jackson
- December 11, 12: #12 Roosevelt
- December 15, 16: #62 Archer
- December 17: #49 Western/#X49 Western Express
- December 18: #79 79th
- December 19: #3 King Drive
- December 22: #28 Stony Island
- December 23: #29 State
- December 24: #J14 Jeffery Jump
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