Note: This page contains information from the 2019 season. The Allstate CTA Holiday Train is a holiday tradition unique to Chicago, which, due to popular demand, is now accompanied by the Allstate CTA Elves’ Workshop Train. Two trains provide twice the amount of fun and festivities to make your holiday extra special. Just as dazzling and decked out as the Holiday Train, the Elves’ Workshop Train is a six-car train of magic and memories, just like its popular counterpart. It follows the Holiday Train on Saturdays, which are the busiest days, to help ensure everyone has an opportunity to experience this one-of-kind, tradition.

Complementing these two festive trains is the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus, which brings the same holiday spirit and joy to bus riders as it travels throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods.

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2019 Allstate CTA Holiday Train

& Allstate CTA Elves' Workshop Train

What few may realize is that the train serves two very important purposes: to deliver joy and the holiday spirit to thousands of riders and also to deliver food baskets to various charitable agencies throughout the city.

The train began on the Blue Line in 1992 when a “Season’s Greetings from the CTA” sign was placed on the front of an out-of-service train used to deliver food to various charities. Over the years, this holiday tradition has evolved from its modest and humble beginnings to a spectacular, joyous sight to see – in daytime or nighttime.

Today, as the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to the boarding riders from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar carrying his reindeer and decorated holiday trees.

Both trains are wrapped with holiday and seasonal images. Thousands of twinkling lights outline the shape of the train and windows, with even more lights running across the tops of the cars.

Strands of multi-colored lights are strung inside the two trains along with red bows, garland, red and green overhead lighting and hand poles wrapped to look like candy canes. Santa’s elves greet riders with plenty of candy canes for good boys and girls.

Charity food delivery

The CTA family continues its decades tradition of supporting Chicago communities. Each year employees donate their time and money to purchase groceries and assemble food baskets for delivery to community organizations across the city. This year, we'll donate approximately 500 food baskets to local community organizations.

Each food basket contains all the ingredients for a complete meal including a canned ham, potatoes, mixed vegetables, muffin mix, macaroni and cheese, fruit cocktail, green beans, corn and dessert.

Train schedule

The train will travel all 'L' lines in late November and December as part of regular rail service. Normal CTA fares apply.

The train generally operates from about 1pm to 8pm on weekends and 3pm to 7pm on select weekdays (schedules for each rail line will vary), and will make stops at all stations along the respective routes. And every Saturday the Holiday Train is in service, the Elves' Workshop Train will follow to allow more riders to enjoy this one of a kind holiday experience.

NEW: Bonus train trip Monday, December 23!

We want to say "thank you" our customers, we’ve arranged for Santa to make one final, very special run aboard the Allstate CTA Holiday Train on Monday, December 23. Santa will turn the Holiday Train into a “Loop Shuttle,” continuously making his way around the Outer Loop track (Brown Line side) and making all Loop stops between 11am and 2pm. Travel time around the Loop is about 15 minutes, so hop on, hop off and join us to see Santa off for 2019!

= Photos with Santa; E lves' Workshop Train in service and directly following the main holiday train

2019 Allstate CTA Holiday Bus

Day or night, the commutes of thousands and the streets of Chicago’s neighborhoods are made merry with the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus. Now a part of our holiday tradition since 2014, CTA employees have transformed this 60-foot bus into a winter wonderland as a way to say “thank you” to customers and bring added cheer this holiday season.

The exterior of the bus features Chicago's skyline one snowy evening with “Ralphie the Reindeer” leading the way, his nose aglow and Santa’s sleigh in tow. Festive strings of lights outline the bus and its windows, along with sparkling snowflakes that light-up at night.

Inside, the bus features multi-colored lights, holiday-themed seating, candy-cane striping, artwork created by students from Perkins Bass Elementary School. In the very back of the bus is Santa and his sleigh, which serves as the perfect setting for the scheduled photo sessions with Santa.

Schedule

The bus will travel multiple CTA bus routes throughout the city between late November and late December , as part of regular service. Normal CTA fares apply.

The bus will generally operate from early afternoon through early evening on select weekdays and weekends (schedules for each route will vary), and will serve all posted stops along the respective routes.

We strongly encourage you to use the holiday bus tracker to track the whereabouts of Ralphie and Santa along the scheduled route. This information will only be available while the bus is in service on the dates and times listed below.

indicates scheduled date for photos with Santa

Travel tips

Both the train and bus are in-service vehicles that operate as part of regular service; therefore, they cannot dwell at stations/stops for long periods of time. While every effort is made to accommodate riders, space is limited and boarding is not guaranteed.

To ensure everyone has an opportunity to see and take part in this annual tradition, here are a few suggested tips to make the most of your experience: