Commuters will get a dose of the holiday spirit this weekend with the arrival of the CTA Holiday Train.
On Saturday, the holiday train will make its first stops along the Red Line, according to a press release from the CTA.
Holiday decorations featuring Santa, reindeer, and elves cover the exterior of the six-car train. The interior comes adorned in multi-colored lights and garland, and poles are wrapped to look like candy canes.
CTA riders can also expect a visit from Santa. As the train pulls into each station, Santa Claus will wave to passengers from his “sleigh,” a separate flatbed rail car carrying him and his reindeer.
This year, Sprint has sponsored the CTA Holiday Train and Holiday Bus. The new $300,000 sponsorship will allow the CTA to add an extra day of Holiday Train service, according to the CTA.
Riders can catch the Holiday Train starting Saturday at 4:40 p.m. at the Howard Red Line station. It will continue to run on different CTA lines through Dec. 23.
The CTA Holiday bus, a 60-foot bus featuring “Ralphie the Reindeer,” will begin service along several routes starting Dec. 2.
