By Eric Berger

If you enjoy the sight of a train decked out in Christmas lights, Metra has your ticket. Following a November 17 debut, the Chicago-area transit agency is running trains bedecked with holiday lighting from end to end.

“Decorated inside and out with twinkling red and green lights and with holiday tunes playing, these trains will operate on most lines throughout the holiday season as a gift to our riders,” the agency said in its announcement. It noted that these consists will also be used on sold out holiday trains in December.

“This is just our way of infusing the daily commute with the holiday spirit,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski.  “We hope our customers enjoy these trains and have a happy and safe holiday season.”

The lighted consists will appear on various regularly scheduled trains out of Union Station through the month of November to December 4 and from LaSalle Street Station from November 20 through January 5.

The regularly scheduled trains listed below are scheduled to feature the holiday consists. These schedules are subject to change; check with Metra for updates.

BNSF (beginning Monday, Dec. 4)

Train 1220, the 7:26 a.m. arrival at Union Station

Train 1227, the 11:33 a.m. departure from Union Station

Train 1260, the 2:16 p.m. arrival at Union Station

Train 1233, the 2:33 p.m. departure from Union Station

Train 1273, the 5:40 p.m. departure from Union Station

Milwaukee District North

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Train 2121, the 2:35 p.m. departure from Union Station

Wednesday, Nov. 29

Train 2128, the 10:22 a.m. arrival at Union Station

Thursday, Nov. 30

Trains 2133, the 4:45 p.m. departure from Union Station, and 2134, the 1:22 p.m. arrival at Union Station

Friday, Dec. 1

Train 2118, the 8:30 a.m. arrival at Union Station

Milwaukee District West

Friday, Dec. 1

Train 2217, the 12:30 p.m. departure from Union Station

Monday, Dec. 4

Train 2208, the 7:20 a.m. arrival at Union Station

North Central Service

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Train 105, the 1:25 p.m. departure from Union Station

Wednesday, Nov. 29

Train 113, the 5:01 p.m. departure from Union Station

Metra Electric (beginning Monday, Nov. 20)

Weekday Inbound to Millennium

Trains 304 (7:21 a.m. arrival); 314 (9:17 a.m. arrival); 218 (1:10 p.m. arrival); 132 (5:51 p.m. arrival), 142 (9 p.m. arrival); and 148 (11:58 p.m. arrival)

Weekday Outbound from Millennium

Trains 311 (7:45 p.m. departure), 219 (11 a.m. departure), 127 (3:20 p.m. departure), 709 (6:12 p.m. departure) and 147 (9:30 p.m. departure)

Weekend Inbound to Millennium

Trains 8022 (7:21 a.m. arrival); 806 (849 a.m. arrival); 8308* (9:16 a.m. arrival); 8312* (11:16 a.m. arrival); 814 (12:49 a.m. arrival); 816* (1:43 p.m. arrival); 820* (3:43 p.m. arrival); 822 (4:49 p.m. arrival); 8324* (5:16 p.m. arrival); 8328* (7:16 p.m. arrival); 830 (8:49 p.m. arrival); and 838 (12:49 a.m. arrival)

Weekend Outbound from Millennium

Trains 101 (4:50 a.m. departure); 803 6:10 a.m. departure); 8307* (7:40 a.m. departure); 8311* (9:40 a.m. departure); 811 (10:10 a.m. departure); 815 (12:10 p.m. departure); 819 (2:10 p.m. departure); 8323* (3:40 p.m. departure); 827 6:10 p.m. departure); 8327* (5:40 p.m. departure); and 835 (10:10 p.m. departure)

Saturdays Only*

Rock Island Line

Nov. 21 – Dec. 1

Trains 602 (6:45 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station, 6:47 a.m. beginning Nov. 27); 403 (7:10 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 414 (9:45 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 619 (3:25 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 630 (5:16 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); and 627 (5:40 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Dec. 4 – 8

Monday Wednesday and Friday

Trains 604 (7:16 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 405 (7:55 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 416 (10:40 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 611 (11:25 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 622 (1:16 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 701 (3:55 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); (6:24 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 631 (6:40 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Tuesday and Thursday

Trains 606 (7:45 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station, 7:46 a.m. beginning Nov. 27); 605 (8:25 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 614 (10:16 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 625 (5:10 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Dec. 11 – 15

Monday Wednesday and Friday

Trains 600 (6:06 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 401 (6:25 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 412 (9:10 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 609 (10:25 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 620 (12:16 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station 12:16 p.m.); 629 (6:10 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Tuesday and Thursday

Trains 608 (8:16 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 407 (8:55 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 418 (11:40 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 615 (1:25 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 626 (3:19 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station 3:16 p.m. beginning Nov. 27); 623 (4:40 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Dec. 18 – 22

Trains 602 (6:45 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station 6:47 a.m. beginning Nov. 27); 403 (7:10 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 414, (9:45 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 619 (3:25 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 630 (5:16 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); and 627 (5:40 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Dec. 26 – Jan. 5

Monday Wednesday and Friday

Trains 604 (7:16 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 405 (7:55 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 416 (10:40 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 611 (11:25 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 622 (1:16 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 701 (3:55 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 432 (6:24 p.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 631 (6:40 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)

Tuesday and Thursday

Trains 606 (7:46 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 605 (8:25 a.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station); 614 (10:16 a.m. arrival at LaSalle Street Station); 625 (5:10 p.m. departure from LaSalle Street Station)