Metra's holiday trains will steam through Chicago neighborhoods for a limited time in the winter.
The company announced the tradition will return, offering riders a trip with a cast of familiar faces: Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves. Those aboard the train can score goody bags before they hop off at Millennium Station, where there will be holiday music, face painting and other activities.
The train fleet decked in festive gear will chug along Dec. 3 on Metra's Electric Line. It's also set to roll Dec. 10 and 17.
Tickets for the special will cost $5 and must be bought in advance, as passes will not be sold on trains, the Ventra app or vending machines, according to the company.
Tickets will be available starting Nov. 21 at the following Electric Line and Rock Island Line stations:
- Millennium: 151 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Van Buren: 132 E. Van Buren St., Chicago
- LaSalle Street: 414 S. LaSalle St., Chicago
- Blue Island Vermont St: 2300 W. Grove St., Blue Island
- Midlothian: 3750 W. 147th St., Midlothian
- Oak Forest: 4850 W.159th St., Oak Forest
- Tinley Park: 6700 South St., Tinley Park
- Tinley Park 80th Avenue: 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park
- New Lenox: 201 N. Prairie Rd., New Lenox
- Joliet: 90 E. Jefferson St., Joliet
Here's the holiday train schedule:
Inbound
- University Park: 11:00 a.m.
- Richton Park: 11:03 a.m.
- 211th Street: 11:08 a.m.
- Flossmoor: 11:13 a.m.
- Homewood: 11:15 a.m.
- Calumet: 11:17 a.m.
- Harvey: 11:22 a.m.
- 115th/Kensington: 11:32 a.m.
- 55th/56th/57th: 11:42 a.m.
- 51st/53rd: 11:44 a.m.
- Museum Campus: 11:53 a.m.
- Millennium: 11:58 a.m.
Outbound
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- Millennium: 2:15 p.m.
- Museum Campus: 2:20 p.m.
- 51st/53rd: 2:29 p.m.
- 55th/56th/57th: 2:31 p.m.
- 115th/Kensington: 2:41 p.m.
- Harvey: 2:50 p.m.
- Calumet: 2:55 p.m.
- Homewood: 2:57 p.m.
- Flossmoor: 2:59 p.m.
- 211th Street: 3:03 p.m.
- Richton Park: 3:08 p.m.
- University Park: 3:15 p.m.
Metra noted ticketholders will be able to take any outbound Electric Line train on the date of their ticket.
