CHICAGO — Metra has launched use of specially decorated trains for the holidays in regular commuter service, while the Chicago Transit Authority’s Holiday Train is set to begin operation on Nov. 24.
The debut of the Metra trains — decorated for already sold-out holiday rides with Santa Claus in December — came on Friday, Nov. 17, with an afternoon departure on the Metra Milwaukee North Line. Milwaukee North operation will continue on Monday, Nov. 20; the North Central Service, Rock Island District, Union Pacific North and Metra Electric will also see decorated trains in operation beginning Nov. 20, while the trains will debut on the Union Pacific West on Nov. 21, the Union Pacific Northwest on Nov. 22, and the BNSF Line beginning Dec. 4. Schedule details are available here. A video of the Metra Electric train is available below.
Schedules are subject to change and will be updated by Metra as additional information becomes available.
“This is just our way of infusing the daily commute with the holiday spirit,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a press release. “We hope our customers enjoy these trains and have a happy and safe holiday season.”
CTA Holiday Train returns
The CTA Holiday Train, a six-car train decorated with holiday scenes, LED signs, and sparkling lights, will operate on all eight lines of the CTA system beginning the day after Thanksgiving. Those looking to ride the train or get photos can follow its location at the CTA Train Tracker, where the holiday train is denoted by a candy cane icon. The similarly decorated CTA Holiday Bus will operate on 16 routes beginning Nov. 28, and can be tracked here.
“This tradition is made possible by the CTA frontline employees who have spent months getting the 2023 Allstate CTA Holiday Train and Bus ready for service,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. said in a press release. “I encourage passengers to pass along their appreciation to the elves onboard the holiday fleet, who will shared those glad tidings with their fellow employees.”
Merry Christmas from the Windy City!