NJ TRANSIT OFFERS EXTRA SERVICE FOR BUSY HOLIDAY WEEK

Money-saving Family Super Saver and off-peak fares in effect from December 24 until January 4

December 22, 2009
NJT-09-136

NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT will offer extra service for the upcoming holidays to give customers more travel options, whether going to the mall for last-minute shopping, leaving work early for the Christmas and New Year’s weekends, or attending New Year’s Eve festivities.

Now through December 23, 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.  Extra trips or expanded service will be offered on 13 bus routes serving 11 malls and shopping centers throughout the state, including Elizabeth Center at 13A (IKEA), Garden State Plaza, IKEA Paramus, Jersey Gardens, Livingston Mall, Harmon Meadow/Mill Creek in Secaucus, The Mall at Short Hills, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center Mall and West Belt Mall.  

For detailed schedule information, visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555. 

Extended savings for the holiday season

For the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, 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 extended from 7 p.m. Thursday, December 24 until 6 a.m. Monday, January 4, on all trains, buses and light rail lines.  In addition, discounted off-peak roundtrip tickets will be valid on all NJ TRANSIT trains during this period. 

CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT A GLANCE

On Thursday, December 24, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines (Friday schedule on Atlantic City Rail Line) 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, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis 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 starting around 1 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel, with less frequent service during the peak periods and later in the evening due to lower ridership.  Visit njtransit.com for special holiday timetables.   

On Christmas Day, December 25, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule (Sunday schedule on the Raritan Valley Line; Saturday schedule on Atlantic City Rail Line).  Newark Light Rail and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule; River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.  Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information. 

From Monday, December 28 through Wednesday, December 30, trains will operate on a 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.  Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule.  Buses will operate on a weekday schedule.

NEW YEAR’S SERVICE AT A GLANCE

On Thursday, December 31, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines (Friday schedule on Atlantic City Rail Line) 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, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines.  Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule.  In addition, River Line will operate extended late-night service on New Year’s Eve and after midnight on New Year’s Day to accommodate customers attending the festivities on the Camden Waterfront.  Visit njtransit.com for details.

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 starting around 1 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel, with less frequent service during the peak periods and later in the evening due to lower ridership.  Visit njtransit.com for special holiday timetables.   

After midnight New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, special late-night trains will operate on most rail lines, and expanded bus service will be provided from the Port Authority Bus Terminal between midnight and 5:30 a.m. on selected routes.  Visit njtransit.com for details.

On New Year’s Day, January 1, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule (Sunday schedule on Raritan Valley Line; Saturday schedule on Atlantic City Rail Line).  Newark Light Rail and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule; River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.  Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information. 

Travel tips

• Plan your trip online at njtransit.com to take advantage of extra trains and buses.
• On December 24, and from December 28-31, NJ TRANSIT rail lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule.  Avoid the crowds by traveling during the traditional peak period (6-9 a.m.) when ridership is light between the holidays.  Best of all, you can use off-peak tickets all day. 
• Purchase roundtrip tickets at your boarding station to avoid lines and speed your return trip.  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.
• 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 240 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.