CTA Holiday Train on the Green Line

 

[VIDEO] I'm sorry I missed this video from YouTuber msibnsf Harrison showing the CTA Holiday Train terming this the 2020 version of this tradition running on the CTA Green Line especially on the Englewood/Ashland branch from 59th street west side of the Dan Ryan which was uploaded on November 28. The Holiday Train ran on the Green on Nov. 27, 28 and Dec. 1.

Here's a schedule for when and where you will see the Holiday Train & Holiday Bus on the CTA.

The CTA Holiday Train 2020

 JP Paulus used to talk a lot about catching up with the CTA Holiday Train. He hasn't really shared anything about it in the last few years. However, I figure you the audience can use some holiday cheer.

With this pandemic and the challenges to the presidential election still ongoing, I think we could use it.

Of course because we're still in a pandemic we can't board the holiday train or bus as we usually would in normal times. Still I saw the holiday bus on a run one night recently and to see a vehicle decorated with Christmas lights and blaring Christmas much raised my spirits a lot!

Here is the CTA Holiday Bus & Train Schedule for 2020.

• 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

And the buses

• 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

I made bold the dates where the holiday buses and trains will come through our part of the south side. So if you want the Holiday Train we'll see it on the Red Line on the 8th, 10th, and 12th...

Also great applause to CTA for their charity food delivery

The CTA family continues its decades tradition of supporting Chicago communities. Each year our 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 600 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.

Either way I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season this year.

h/t Sloopin 

CTA Holiday Train schedule

The CTA has the dates when the Holiday Train will ride throughout the system.

The Red Line is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 17, Thursday Dec. 19 and Saturday Dec. 21, that last day includes an extended time for photos with Santa.  Exact travel times have not been published (and won't be until the last minute).

The Green Line starts TODAY, Friday November 29.
It also runs Saturday, November 30 (with photos with Santa)  as well as Tuesday, December 3.

The entire schedule is found here.

We will publish a  more detailed Red Line schedule when available. The Sixth Ward writer JP Paulus and his family plan riding the Saturday train (possibly the early run) -- stay tuned for details!

CTA Holiday Train - Join us NEXT Saturday!

* Join JP and his family NEXT Saturday to ride the Holiday Train. Meet us at the 95th street platform at 2pm.  Send an e-mail to blog (at) TheSixthWard (dot) us  for details.  See the following for other times & details to ride the train).

The Chicago Transit Authority has now announced their schedule for the Holiday Train, featuring a special car for Santa Claus, with specific stop times.

I have taken my daughter previous years to the Holiday Train, and it was fun. For just the cost of an El Ride, we were able to get to Belmont and take some photos.

The Holiday schedule will be posted here.

This Saturday, families can take photos from 1:45pm - 2:30pm at the 95th street station.

Some suggestions for those considering doing it this year:

1. Go to the beginning of the trip (whether it's Howard or 95th). Even just 2 stops into the "tour", at 79th, the train was quite crowded already.
2. Plan to be there at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule. It will be a lot less stressful.
3. There is a time to get a photo taken next to Santa and in front of the trains. This includes at the very beginning, but also at 1 or 2 major stops, like Belmont. But note-- it's only about 4 minutes to do so. So take your photos and hop back on! (we wound up missing it after the photos)

The dates, times and directions for the 69th, 79th, 87th and 95th el stops:

(Dec 12 Wed - Northbound)

• 95th = 4:16pm
• 87th = 4:19pm
• 79th = 4:22pm
• 69th = 4:25pm

(Dec 14 Fri - Northbound)

• 95th = 4:48pm
• 87th = 4:51pm
• 79th = 4:54pm
• 69th = 4:57pm

(Dec 15 Sat - Northbound)
photos with Santa: 2pm -2:50pm

• 95th = 3:01pm and 7:26pm
• 87th = 3:04pm and 7:29pm
• 79th = 3:07pm and 7:32pm
• 69th = 3:10pm and 7:35pm

(Dec 18  Tue- Northbound)

• 95th = 5:19pm???
• 87th = 5:22pm???
• 79th = 5:25pm???
• 69th = 5:28pm???

(Dec 22  Sat- Northbound)  <---- i="i">When we'll go!

• 95th = 3pm???
• 87th = 3:04pm???
• 79th = 3:07pm???
• 69th = 3:10pm???

Any families want to meet up this year?  E-mail us at blog (at) TheSixthWard (dot) us

CTA Holiday Train Red Line Schedule

The CTA has posted dates for their annual Holiday Train. The actual hourly schedule will be posted shortly.

The Red Line dates are

• Wednesday, Dec. 12
• Friday, Dec. 14
• Saturday, Dec. 15
• Tuesday, Dec. 18
• Saturday, Dec. 22

On that last date, Dec. 22, The SixthWard writer , JP Paulus, will be there again with his family. Contact him at jp (at) TheSixthWard.us if you are interested in joining us. 

CTA Holiday Train 2011 -- join us THIS SATURDAY!

 Sorry we weren't able to make it yesterday. If anyone see's this in time, you can meet JP & his family TODAY (Saturday) at 2:15pm at the 95th street el platform to board the CTA Holiday Train (the price of a regular ride).

Here's the link for more info on the the train.