GRIDLOCK RELIEF: EXTRA RAIL, BUS, CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS

Kids ride free on NJ TRANSIT all holiday weekend

November 21, 2011
NJT-11-084

NEWARK, NJ — Whether you’re traveling over the river or through the woods, NJ TRANSIT is gearing up to provide gridlock relief during the approaching holiday season.  Starting Wednesday, November 23 and continuing through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, scores of NJ TRANSIT customer service representatives and volunteers will be deployed at major facilities to assist customers, with rail and bus service adjusted to match Thanksgiving travel patterns.

This year, NJ TRANSIT will once again offer “early getaway” rail and bus service on Wednesday, November 23, for the benefit of customers leaving work early, and to provide additional capacity for customers traveling to Newark Liberty International Airport.  The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is typically the airport rail station’s busiest day of the year, with ridership levels about twice that of a typical weekday.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, NJ TRANSIT will add extra trains and buses to the schedule in the morning hours to accommodate customers traveling to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

Then on Friday, November 25, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, enhanced bus service will be offered to shopping centers throughout New Jersey and additional late morning trains will operate to and from New York.

For complete schedule and fare information, customers may visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

HOLIDAY SERVICE AT A GLANCE

On Wednesday, November 23, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines with additional “early getaway” service from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at 1 p.m. on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex and Pascack Valley lines.  Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule.  Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information.  Selected routes will operate on special holiday schedules to match service with ridership demand, including early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal between noon and 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel, with less frequent service during the peak periods and later in the evening due to lower ridership.  Special holiday timetables are available on njtransit.com.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule.  To accommodate customers traveling to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NJ TRANSIT will add extra trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley and Morris & Essex lines.  On the Montclair-Boonton Line, service will operate on a weekend schedule between Bay Street Montclair and Hoboken, with connections at Newark Broad Street.  Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule; Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.  Holiday bus schedules vary by route—bus customers are advised to visit njtransit.com.  Selected bus routes will operate extra service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal for customers traveling to the parade.  Special service on the No. 111 bus route from New York to the Jersey Gardens Mall will begin operating at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

On Friday, November 25, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines.  Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is light.  Select morning peak period trains on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line will not operate on Friday, due to expected light ridership—customers should visit njtransit.com and use the “Station-to-Station Trip Planner” to find trains on Friday.  Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule.  Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule.  River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.  Holiday bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to visit njtransit.com. 

Extra bus service to New Jersey malls

Starting Friday, November 25 and continuing through December 24, NJ TRANSIT will offer additional bus service to major New Jersey shopping destinations to accommodate extended store hours and busy shopping times throughout the day.  Throughout the holiday shopping season, extra trips or expanded service will be offered on several bus routes serving malls and shopping centers throughout the state, including Garden State Plaza, IKEA Paramus, Jersey Gardens, Livingston Mall, Harmon Meadow/Mill Creek in Secaucus, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center Mall and West Belt Mall.  Note:  Special service on the No. 111 bus route from New York to the Jersey Gardens Mall will begin operating at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night, November 24.

Kids ride free on NJT

For the Thanksgiving holiday, NJ TRANSIT’s Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger 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.  

Travel tips

• Check Schedules in Advance:  Additional service will be provided on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Plan your trip online to take advantage of extra trains and buses. 
• Travel Early on Friday, November 25:  On Friday, NJ TRANSIT rail lines will operate on a modified weekday schedule with additional trains during the late morning hours.  Avoid the crowds by traveling during the traditional peak-period (6-9 a.m.) when ridership is light.  
• Allow Extra Travel Time:  Traffic congestion during the holidays may affect bus travel times to and from New York City, so customers should plan accordingly.
• Ticketing:  Purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip to speed your return.  Use ticket vending machines or see a ticket agent, if available, to avoid possible surcharges.  Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus.
• Luggage:  Travel as light as possible.  Passengers with luggage or packages should use the overhead racks or designated luggage spaces.  On multilevel trains, customers with large bags should use the mezzanine levels at the ends of each car.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 weekday trips on 260 bus routes, three light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.