As the CTA’s holiday train was making the rounds through the Loop recently, Santa Claus was the one being naughty.
Well, at least someone dressed up like him was.
In videos circulating on social media, someone in a Santa outfit is shown “subway surfing” atop the holiday train, climbing to the train’s roof and standing, walking and, at times, waving while engaging in the illegal and dangerous pastime that is rampant in New York.
The trend, documented in much lesser numbers in the Chicago region, is strongly discouraged by the city’s transit agency.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported last month that the CTA logged two dozen surfing incidents since 2023, though it’s surely going on much more than the official count. In New York, there have been a number of deaths and injuries because of the practice, and special police patrols to dissuade and capture anyone who’d partake.
Posted in recent days, the videos show the Santa character and an “elf” sidekick climbing onto the L train’s roof, apparently from an elevated platform in the Loop.
At one point, the two dance as the train powers along, lit up with pulsing Christmas lights — part of the festive decoration of the holiday train, which also often carries an “official” Santa Claus on an open-air L car as part of an annual tradition to bring cheer to kids.
Audio on the social media posts has one of the unofficial characters exclaiming “Gangsta Claus!” and “Yo ho!”
Someone who goes by “Ekton” posted the video on Instagram with a note:
“Subway surfing the Chicago holiday train . . . Been on my mind for years, I’m so happy that it finally happened . . . stay naughty!”
Commenters were mixed on the escapade, with one saying, “I like to believe that a little kid walking on the street saw Santa on top of the CTA and their parents didn’t believe them and they were filled with a little bit more Christmas magic this year because of this.”
Another penned: “Encouraging s— like this is stupid. People have died, but what do I expect from Chicago.”
Either way, it’s another embarrassing incident for the CTA as it faces increased scrutiny over safety and security. The incidents range from violent crime — as a female rider was set on fire last month by a suspect who’s reportedly mentally ill — to also nuisance crime, such as smoking and drinking on trains.
The Trump administration has ramped up pressure on the CTA to take more direct action against transit crime, and recently threatened to withhold federal funding if it didn’t. The CTA on Monday sent a response letter to the Federal Transit Administration, an arm of the federal government, outlining a plan to address crime.
Both agencies refused to share a copy of the letter.
Ekton — described on his landing page as “Unexpected and sneaky” and “The favorite explorer of your favorite explorer” — didn’t respond to direct messages left by a reporter.
His online feed shows other hair-raising endeavors in Chicago, including a video of several people decked out in Christmas-themed costumes atop a high-rise, walking and dancing on the edge of the structure in harrowing fashion as the ground below is covered with snow.
Another video shows a man in a Santa suit subway surfing with a colleague in what appears to be Paris.