All aboard! From birthdays and office parties to wedding celebrations and fundraisers, you can now charter a CTA train for any occasion. With the ability to pick its route and schedule, the CTA requires an initial fee of $3,000, plus a deposit depending on the size and length of your event.
Chartered trains have been offered in Chicago since the late 1930s and can run anywhere in the CTA system. You can create a route from the Downtown Loop area, all the way through the unique neighborhoods that reach to the outer points of the city. Each train car can hold up to 35 people and is not allowed to run during weekday rush hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
The funds the chartered trains make get put directly back into CTA operations and maintenance of their Heritage Fleet of vintage trains. The Heritage Fleet Program was specifically designed to preserve the history of the CTA and ensure that vintage buses, trains, and other equipment are maintained in peak condition to be remembered and enjoyed for public events.
The CTA only books a few private charter events, with most of the trains being used for movies and commercial shoots. No booze is allowed during the charter events, with food, non-alcoholic beverages, decoration, sound systems and live music all being permitted.
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