Santa and his reindeer opted for public transportation recently as they climbed aboard the CTA Holiday Train as it rolled through Evanston’s Purple Line stations. Families gathered to catch a ride on the train, which was covered with thousands of multi-colored lights. Santa and his reindeer were perched on an open-air flatcar at the train’s middle, and waved to the crowd as they snapped pictures and boarded the train. Once inside, riders found the interior decorated with lights, bows and garland. Five-year-old Spencer George, from Evanston, and his friend Evan Henrard, 5, from Chicago, jumped with excitement as the train pulled into Evanston’s Main Street Purple Line station on Dec. 21. “We get candy canes,” Spencer exclaimed as the train neared. “And we’ll see Santa,” Evan added. The Holiday Train moves to the Yellow Line today, leaving the Howard Street station every 10 minutes starting at 3:06 p.m., and running through 7:06 p.m.