Metra Holiday Trains Return on Six Lines
Published: November 3, 2026
By: Adam Burns
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority said on November 2 that it is joining the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace in putting holiday trains and buses on the region’s routes. Metra’s holiday-train schedule is already posted. Tickets go on sale at noon on November 16 at shop.metra.com. The CTA will release schedule information for the Allstate Holiday Train and Holiday Bus that same day, and Pace will send out holiday buses beginning in late November.
Metra F40PHM-2 #206 is on the ex-Rock Island line at Blue Island, Illinois on May 22, 2014. Doug Kroll photo.
Six lines in December
Specially decorated trains with holiday characters will make round trips on the BNSF, Milwaukee District North, and Rock Island lines on December 5. The Union Pacific Northwest Line runs on December 12, and the Union Pacific North Line runs on December 19.
On the Metra Electric, decorated trains on December 12, 13, and 19 will take riders to a winter wonderland at Millennium Station, with games, treats, Santa, and other activities.
Tickets cost $10 each and have to be bought in advance. Each purchase is limited to five tickets. Metra said the trips are expected to sell out fast. Schedules for each train are at metra.com/holidaytrains. The decorated equipment will also run in regular service through the month.
Holiday buses in the same announcement
The CTA Holiday Train is in its 35th year. Six passenger cars carry more than 100,000 lights, and an open-air flatcar carries Santa, a sleigh, reindeer, and decorated trees. The Holiday Bus is 60 feet long, with more than 1,800 feet of LED rope and pod lighting, holiday music, and Santa greeting riders from the roof hatch. The train and bus will cover all eight rail lines and 20 bus routes. CTA employees also assemble about 400 food baskets for community organizations.
Both vehicles run in regular service, and regular CTA fares apply. Photo stops with Santa are planned on designated dates. Space is limited, and boarding is not guaranteed. Full schedules will be posted at transitchicago.com/holidayfleet. Once the train is running, CTA Train Tracker marks it with a candy-cane icon. The Holiday Bus has its own tracker.
Pace will put one holiday bus at each of its nine garages beginning in late November. Each bus stays in normal daily service until the new year, at regular Pace fares.
Related reading on American-Rails.com
Sources
- Metra newsroom, “NITA holiday trains and buses,” November 2, 2026. The Northern Illinois Transit Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace. Allstate CTA Holiday Train and Bus schedule information on November 16. Metra holiday-train schedule posted, with tickets on sale at noon November 16 at shop.metra.com. Round trips on the BNSF, Milwaukee District North, and Rock Island lines on December 5; the UP Northwest Line on December 12; the UP North Line on December 19. Metra Electric on December 12, 13, and 19 to Millennium Station for games, treats, Santa, and other activities. Tickets are $10, sold in advance, with a limit of five per purchase, and are expected to sell out fast. Schedules at metra.com/holidaytrains. Decorated trains also run in regular service through the month. CTA Holiday Train in its 35th year: six cars, more than 100,000 lights, open-air flatcar with Santa, sleigh, reindeer, and trees. Holiday Bus is 60 feet, with more than 1,800 feet of LED lighting, music, and Santa at the roof hatch. All eight rail lines and 20 bus routes. About 400 food baskets. Regular service and regular fares. Photo opportunities on designated dates. Space is limited and boarding is not guaranteed. Schedules at transitchicago.com/holidayfleet. Candy-cane icon on CTA Train Tracker. Separate Holiday Bus tracker. Pace: one holiday bus at each of nine garages from late November, in daily service until the new year, at regular fares.
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