CTA Holiday Train

Overview

The Holiday Train runs in regular service across the 'L' system between late November and Christmas, visiting all 146 stations as it progresses through the system's eight lines. Each day the train is in service, it runs on either a single line or a combination of two lines, stopping at all stations. It operates as run #1225, in reference to the date of Christmas Day. CTA employees, dressed as Christmas elves, greet passengers onboard.

As of 2025, the Holiday Train runs five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, from Black Friday until a few days before Christmas (occasionally also running on a Monday). It runs for three to four hours in the afternoon on weekdays, and for longer spans on Saturday afternoons. For the final day of each year's service, the Holiday Train is divided into three two-car trains, which run individually on the Yellow Line.

Rolling stock

The train is decorated each fall at the Skokie Shops, and is stored there when not in use. Decorations are stored and reused from year to year. As of 2024, the train's decorations included more than 100,000 Christmas lights.

Elves' Workshop Train

From 2016 to 2019, the Holiday Train was accompanied by a second holiday-themed train, known as the Elves' Workshop Train. The Elves' Workshop Train ran exclusively on Saturdays, directly behind the main Holiday Train, to accommodate crowds. Like the Holiday Train, the Elves' Workshop Train also consisted of six decorated 2600-series railcars (units 2883-2900).

Holiday Bus

In addition to the Holiday Train, the CTA also operates a holiday-themed bus. The CTA Holiday Bus**** is a decorated New Flyer D60LFR articulated bus (unit 4374) decorated with lights and a vinyl wrap in a manner similar to the Holiday Train, and similarly running in regularly scheduled service on CTA bus routes. The Holiday Bus debuts each year during the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade, and services 15 to 20 bus routes each year.

Charity support

The Holiday Train program has historically been used to provide food to local charities; in 2025, the CTA donated 400 food baskets.

History

The Holiday Train began in 1992 as a decorated out-of-service train run on the Blue Line, used by CTA staff to deliver donations of food to local charities. It became a passenger service in 1996.

In 2003, the Holiday Train derailed near Sedgwick station while running on the Brown Line. Passengers were evacuated, though no one was injured.

The Holiday Train was nearly discontinued in December 2004 amid systemwide budget cuts, with then-CTA president Frank Kruesi stating that it was difficult to justify funding the program amid the threat of mass employee layoffs the following January. Kruesi was criticized for the decision, with local media comparing him unfavorably to the Grinch. The service was reinstated at the request of Carole Brown, then-chair of CTA's board of directors.

In 2014, the CTA introduced the Holiday Bus to complement the Holiday Train.

In 2016, the CTA introduced the Elves’ Workshop Train

Since the 2010s, the Holiday Train program has been funded primarily by corporate sponsors. The train and bus were sponsored by Sprint in 2015, and by Jewel-Osco in 2017. Allstate has been the title sponsor of the services since 2018. [[File:20111125 HolidayL22.jpg|right|thumb|The CTA Holiday Train in 2011]] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holiday Train and Bus ran without passengers in 2020.

Reception

In 2009, a song titled "CTA X-mas Train", describing the Holiday Train, won a contest in the Chicago Tribune seeking a new "classic" Chicago holiday song.

References

Notes

References

1. (November 25, 2008). "Next Stop, North Pole. Doors Open on the Left...".
2. (2023-12-16). "Snowflakes, candy canes and 36,000 LED lights: The making of the CTA holiday fleet".
3. "Allstate CTA Holiday Train & Bus".
4. Alpasan, Eunice. (2025-11-17). "CTA Announces Holiday Train and Bus Schedules for 2025; Metra Holiday Train Tickets Sold Out".
5. "(2025) CTA Holiday Train Run 1225 arriving @ Jackson Station #shorts #cta". MJCHICAGOLAND 2314.
6. Irvine, Kevin. (2021-12-02). "Albany Park News".
7. Cervantes, Hector. (2024-12-09). "10 facts about the CTA holiday train".
8. WGN News. (2025-11-28). "Annual CTA Holiday Train kicks off in Chicago, spreading joy and cheer".
9. Cox, Jake. (2025-11-17). "The CTA Holiday Train And Bus Return Next Week".
10. "Chicago ''L''.org: Picture Gallery - Holiday Train Gallery 4".
11. Garfield, Graham. (2018-11-01). "Rolling Stock - CTA Car Assignments".
12. Meyerson, Ben. (December 1, 2009). "CTA holiday train coming to a platform near you".
13. Kim, John J.. (2025-12-04). "CTA Holiday Train in Chicago". [[Chicago Tribune]].
14. Esposito, Stefano. (2023-11-23). "Making the holiday trains: How CTA decks the L’s at Santa’s Skokie workshop".
15. Garcia, Kelly. (2021-12-23). "Searching for the CTA holiday train".
16. Niimi, J. (2024-12-24). "All aboard the CTA Holiday Train".
17. Cervantes, Hector. (2025-12-02). "CTA brings holiday spirit to Chicago streets".
18. Vivianco, Leonor. (2016-11-18). "CTA expands holiday-themed service with new Elves’ Workshop Train".
19. Hautzinger, Daniel. (2019-12-04). "The CTA Holiday Fleet is Here".
20. Hernandez, Alex V.. (2018-11-26). "CTA's Holiday Train, Bus Rides Begin Tuesday. Here's How To Snag A Decked-Out Seat".
21. (2014-12-02). "Inaugural CTA Holiday Bus draws an ‘A’ — and awes — from riders".
22. Ramkissoon, Shane. (2021-12-15). "Chicago Transit Authority 2012-2013 New Flyer D60LFR 4374".
23. "4300-series New Flyer DE60LFR/D60LFR".
24. (2018-11-16). "CTA unwraps the Allstate CTA Holiday Train and Allstate CTA Holiday Bus in celebration of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”".
25. (2019-11-26). "CTA Holiday Bus Hits The Road, Decorative Train Rolls Out Friday - CBS Chicago".
26. (2022-11-18). "CTA's 2022 Holiday Train, Bus Are Coming to a Neighborhood Near You. Here's When and Where to Find Them".
27. Freund, Sara. (2019-11-22). "Ride the CTA holiday train decked out in lights and festive decor".
28. An, Susie. (2023-12-07). "Who’s behind the CTA holiday train? Santa and the elves, of course.".
29. (2003-12-21). "CTA Holiday Train derails; none hurt".
30. Konkol, Mark J.. (2004-12-03). "CTA boss derails Grinch, puts Holiday Train back on track". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].
31. (December 2, 2004). "CTA derails Santa Train". CTA Tattler.
32. (2004-12-03). "Holiday Train will run this year, CTA says".
33. (2004-12-01). "Citing finances, CTA cans ‘Holiday Train’".
34. (2014-11-21). "CTA Debuts its Holiday Bus in the 2014 Magnificent Mile Lights Festival".
35. "CTA unwraps the Holiday Train and Allstate CTA Holiday Bus in celebration of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”".
36. (2015-11-23). "Sprint Sponsors 2015 CTA Holiday Train, Holiday Bus".
37. Marcarelli, Rebekah. (2017-12-31). "Jewel-Osco’s CTA Holiday Train Celebrates 25th Year".
38. "CTA Holiday Train to return in 2020 with social distancing measures in place". WGN-TV.
39. Bauer, Kelly. (2020-11-20). "The Holiday Train Is Coming This Year — But You Can't Ride It".
40. (December 14, 2009). "Best holiday song heralds CTA Holiday Train; Thanksgiving caption contest". CTA Tattler.