‘Sleigh the Season’: NJ TRANSIT Unwraps Holiday Discounts, Special Promotions

NJ Transit is turning holiday travel into a full-on festive free-for-all, rolling out deep discounts, free rides for kids, and even decked-out buses - all part of a "Sleigh the Season" campaign designed to make December commuting a little cheaper and a lot more cheerful.

The agency's latest promotions include a buy-one-get-one-free "Bring a Friend" deal, a 40% discount on round-trip travel to Philadelphia and Atlantic City, and expanded Family SuperSaver benefits that allow up to two children age 11 and under to ride free with each paying adult.

The "Bring a Friend" and 40% off offers both require riders to purchase four one-way tickets through the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App, apply a promo code, and activate all tickets on the same day. Both promotions are available through January 4 and exclude certain services, including SEPTA. The Family SuperSaver deal runs through 2 a.m. on January 6, 2026, and doesn't require tickets for eligible children. All promotional tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and expire at 2 a.m. the same day.

NJ Transit is also getting into the holiday spirit with festive bus wraps and a decorated Newark Light Rail vehicle created in partnership with Audible’s project, The Pillars. The agency says the "Bring a Friend" and "City Pass" deals are returning this year following strong ridership responses in the past.

Several schedule adjustments are planned as well. On December 26, 27, 30, and 31, NJ Transit will operate modified weekday timetables, canceling some morning trains on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line while adding more late-morning service. A modified weekday schedule will also be in place on New Year’s Eve, with additional afternoon and evening trains to New York and Hoboken on the RVL, Morris & Essex, and Port Jervis lines. Some trains that usually run between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. will shift to later departures.

The agency says the extra service is designed to help riders navigate holiday events and family gatherings.