Some lucky Chicagoans will soon be able to ride the Chicago Transit Authority’s colorful holiday bus and train for the first time in two years, after pandemic restrictions last year prohibited boarding.

       The anticipated holiday tradition, in which a train and bus bedecked with lights and holiday decorations snake through the city, is set to return Friday for the train and Nov. 30 for the bus, according to a release from the CTA. Last year, the holiday train and bus ran but people were not allowed to ride due to the pandemic.

       To ensure the safety of riders while COVID-19 continues to spread in the area, the CTA is reminding customers to remain socially distant while riding and that masks are required on public transit. If the train or bus becomes too crowded, it might not stop for additional riders.

       Santa Claus rides the Allstate Chicago Transit Authority Holiday Train as it runs on the Green Line in Chicago on Nov. 29, 2019. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

       There will also be no photos with Santa, and riders are asked to not bring strollers on the train or bus so that more riders can participate.

       “After a two-year wait, we know there is a great deal of excitement and anticipation for the return of this Chicago tradition,” CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. said in a statement. “We want to remind everyone that all customers should celebrate safely and responsibly.”

       New this year are two special Loop runs of the holiday train, in which the train will circle the Loop for several hours on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 to create a photo-worthy backdrop of the holiday train against the skyline.

       Those wishing to try to catch a ride on the holiday train can track it at transitchicago.com/traintracker by looking for the train marked with a candy cane icon. The bus can be tracked at transitchicago.com/holidaybustracker.

       The train will travel all eight rail lines until Dec. 22. The bus will travel 14 different routes until Dec. 23.

       The tradition began on the Blue Line in 1992 when the CTA placed a sign that said “Season’s Greetings from the CTA” on an out-of-service train that delivered food to charities, according to the CTA.

       mabuckley@chicagotribune.com

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