'EARLY GETAWAY' AND EXTRA SERVICE SET FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Kids ride free on NJ TRANSIT this holiday weekend

November 22, 2005
NJT-05-154
Contact: Dan Stessel 973 491-7078

NEWARK, NJ - NJ TRANSIT will offer 'early getaway' rail and bus service on Wednesday, November 23 for the benefit of customers leaving work early for the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, 18 extra trains will run on Thursday, November 24 to accommodate customers traveling to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as those visiting family and friends in New Jersey.

HOLIDAY SERVICE AT A GLANCE

NJ TRANSIT's Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and under to ride free with each fare-paying adult, will remain in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 23 until 6 a.m. Monday, November 28. Customers holding weekly or monthly passes also may bring along up to two kids for free, making it a great value for regular commuters who want to take a weekend trip.

On Wednesday, November 23, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines with additional 'early getaway' rail service from New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at noon. The Newark City Subway, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River LINE will operate on a weekday schedule. Buses will operate on a weekday schedule with extra buses departing from the Port Authority Bus Terminal starting at noon.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule with no service on the Montclair-Boonton and Pascack Valley lines.

NJ TRANSIT will add 18 trains on the Northeast Corridor, Morris & Essex, Raritan Valley, and North Jersey Coast lines for the benefit of customers traveling to and from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as those traveling to New Jersey to visit family and friends. The Newark City Subway, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and River LINE will operate on a Sunday schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route-customers are advised to check their timetables or visit www.njtransit.com for schedule information.

Thanksgiving Day extra train service:

Morris & Essex Lines

• Two additional MidTOWN DIRECT trains will depart Dover at 7:22 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. and operate into New York Penn Station. (See a timetable for details.)
• Two additional MidTOWN DIRECT trains will depart New York Penn Station at 11:54 a.m. and 12:51 p.m. and will make all stops to Dover. (See a timetable for details.)

Northeast Corridor

• Three additional inbound trains will operate from New Brunswick, departing at 6:28 a.m., 7:28 a.m., and 8:28 a.m., and will make all stops to Metropark, express to Newark Liberty International Airport, then stop at Newark Penn Station, Secaucus and New York Penn Station.
• An extra train will depart New York Penn Station at 11:24 a.m. and make all stops to New Brunswick.
• Two additional trains will depart New York Penn Station at 12:24 p.m. and 12:39 p.m. and make all stops to Trenton, except North Elizabeth and Jersey Avenue.
• Four additional outbound trains will operate from New York Penn Station, departing at 9:03 a.m., 10:01 a.m., 10:57 a.m., and 12:01 p.m. and will stop at Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark Penn Station, Metropark, New Brunswick, Princeton Junction and Trenton.

North Jersey Coast Line

• An additional train will depart Long Branch at 6:38 a.m., and will make all stops to New York Penn Station, except North Elizabeth and Avenel.
• An additional train will depart New York Penn Station at 11:52 a.m., and will make all stops to Long Branch, except North Elizabeth and Avenel.

Raritan Valley Line

• An additional train will depart Raritan at 6:43 a.m. and will make all stops to Hoboken, except Garwood and Finderne.
• An additional train will depart Hoboken at 12:00 p.m., and Newark Penn Station at 12:18 p.m., and will make all stops to Raritan, except Garwood and Finderne.

On Friday, November 25, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional 'early getaway' trains from New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at noon. The Newark City Subway will operate on a Saturday schedule; Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River LINE will operate on a weekday schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route-customers are advised to check their timetables or visit www.njtransit.com for schedule information.

Additional bus service will be offered Friday on more than a dozen lines to major New Jersey shopping centers, including Bergen Mall, Elizabeth Center, Garden State Plaza, Jersey Gardens, Livingston Mall, Newport Centre Mall, Paramus Park Mall, The Mall at Short Hills, The Mall at Mill Creek, Harmon Meadow, Willowbrook Mall, Woodbridge Center Mall, Cherry Hill Mall, Hamilton Mall, Moorestown Mall, Quaker Bridge Mall and Shore Mall.

Kids Ride Free on NJT

NJ TRANSIT's Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and under to travel free with each fare-paying adult, will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 23 until 6 a.m. Monday, November 28. Senior citizen and round-trip excursion tickets will be valid without restriction throughout this period.

For NJ TRANSIT schedules, fares or information, visit www.njtransit.com or call 1-800-772-2222.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 800,000 daily trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 53 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.