Metra Holiday Train Tickets To Go On Sale

CHICAGO — Before the Christmas holiday, Santa Claus will be coming to town by train this December. Metra is bringing back its popular special holiday train rides with Saint Nick, Mrs. Claus and other characters on five different rail lines this year.

Tickets for the trains, which go on sale Wednesday, cost $5 each and must be purchased in advance.

According to Metra, holiday trains are planned for the following dates:

• Dec. 2 — Metra Electric, BNSF, and Milwaukee District West lines
• Dec. 9 — Rock Island and Union Pacific Northwest lines
• Dec. 16 — Metra Electric Line

"This is our way to bring the spirit of the holidays and the spirit of 'My Metra' to our riders," said Jim Derwinski, Metra CEO/executive director, in a news release. "Our trains are already safe, reliable, and comfortable, but they can be fun, too. We encourage everyone to climb on board and make Metra part of their holiday tradition."

The Metra trains, as well as downtown stations, are specially decorated for the holidays, giving participants a chance to spread holiday cheer. The holiday trains will also be used in regular service, according to Metra.

In addition, on the Metra Electric Line, a visit to a North Pole winter wonderland at Millennium Station will be included, where families can enjoy treats, holiday music, face painting and other fun activities.

Officials said Metra is also donating tickets so children from Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago can ride the holiday trains.

For all trains, participants can ride the holiday trains back to their starting point or stay downtown and use their holiday train ticket to return on any scheduled train that day.

Tickets for Metra’s holiday trains will go on sale Nov. 1 here and are expected to sell out, according to officials. More information, including schedules for each train, can be found here.