NEW JERSEY — NJ Transit will offer expanded rail, bus and light-rail service throughout the Thanksgiving holiday period, along with free rides for children under its Family SuperSaver program, the agency announced.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is typically the busiest day of the year at Newark Liberty International Airport’s rail station, with passenger levels nearly double those of a normal weekday. To accommodate the surge in travel and early holiday getaways, NJ Transit will provide “early getaway” service on Wednesday, Nov. 26, with additional trains and buses departing Penn Station New York, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal beginning at 2 p.m.
The agency’s Family SuperSaver Fare, which allows up to two children ages 11 and under to ride free with each fare-paying adult, will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, through 2 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5.
HOLIDAY SERVICE AT A GLANCE
| Rail | Bus | Light Rail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Nov. 26 | Early getaway service from New York, Newark and Hoboken | Some routes on special holiday schedule
Consult timetable or visit njtransit.com |
Regular weekday service |
| Thursday, Nov. 27 | Weekend/major holiday schedule
Extra rail service on select lines for the Thanksgiving Day parade. |
Schedules vary by route.
Consult timetable or visit njtransit.com |
HBLR on Saturday/Sunday schedule; Newark Light Rail on Sunday schedule and River LINE on Sunday schedule |
| Friday, Nov. 28 | Weekend/Holiday schedule with extra rail service on select lines during the morning and evening peak periods.
(Service will follow the same schedule as Martin Luther King Day and Presidents’ Day) |
Schedules vary by route
Consult timetable or visit njtransit.com |
HBLR and River LINE will operate on a weekday schedule; Newark Light Rail on Saturday schedule. |
On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, extra morning and early afternoon trains and buses will operate to assist customers traveling to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Rail lines will run on a weekend/major holiday schedule, with added trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex and Port Jervis lines. Light-rail services will follow modified weekend schedules.
On Friday, Nov. 28, traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year, trains will run on an enhanced weekend/holiday timetable with additional peak-period service on several lines. Bus routes will operate on varied schedules to serve malls and shopping centers across the state.
NJ Transit customer service staff and ambassadors will be stationed at major hubs throughout the weekend to assist travelers.
The agency urged riders to purchase round-trip tickets in advance to avoid holiday lines and recommended using the NJ Transit mobile app for ticketing, trip planning and service alerts.
Travel tips include:
• Plan trips ahead using online schedules or the mobile app
• Travel early on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday
• Allow extra time due to holiday traffic and crowds
• Use overhead racks or designated luggage areas
• Stay connected via NJ Transit social media and service alerts
Full schedule details, printable holiday timetables and fare information are available at njtransit.com.
