If you’ve stood on a corner in Newark or waited for a bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, you’ve seen the fleet. It's a massive, lumbering, and honestly kind of chaotic mix of machines. People often think the NJ Transit bus roster is just one big pile of identical blue-and-white buses, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Right now, in early 2026, we’re in the middle of a massive identity crisis for the fleet. NJ Transit is basically trying to swap out its old "workhorse" diesel engines for a future that’s supposedly electric, but the reality on the ground is way more complicated. You’ve got buses from 2007 still rattling down the street right next to brand-new 2025 New Flyers that still smell like fresh plastic.
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The Old Guard is Finally Leaving
For years, the backbone of the local routes was the NABI (North American Bus Industries) 40-SFW. You know the ones. They have that specific, high-pitched whine and the "mid-floor" height that makes you feel every single pothole in Jersey City.
Well, the 5200 through 6400 series NABI buses are officially on life support. Most of the 2007–2009 units have either been scrapped or are sitting in the back of garages like Big Tree or Fairview waiting for the tow truck. Honestly, it’s about time. These things served their purpose, but they’ve been beaten to death by decades of NJ traffic.
What's replacing them?
NJ Transit recently doubled down on New Flyer XD40 Xcelsiors. We’re seeing a massive influx of these 40-foot "clean diesel" units, specifically the 25200 series that started hitting the pavement in 2025. By June 2026, the agency expects to have at least 175 of these fully integrated.
They’re a huge leap forward.
- USB ports at the seats (finally).
- LED lighting that doesn't flicker like a horror movie.
- Low-floor ramps that don't take five minutes to deploy.
But here’s the kicker: even though the state is pushing for "Zero-Emission," most of the new roster is still diesel. Why? Because the infrastructure for electric buses is expensive and slow to build.
The Long-Haul Legends: MCI Cruisers
If you're a commuter hitting the Lincoln Tunnel every morning, your world is dominated by the MCI D-Series. These are the "cruisers." Unlike the local buses, these have the high floors and the luggage bays underneath.
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The roster for these is actually pretty stable, but there's a mix of ages that might surprise you:
- The 2014-2015 MCI D4500CT CNGs: These run on compressed natural gas. You'll mostly see them out of the Howell or Wayne garages.
- The 2020-2022 MCI D4500CTs: These are the modern standards. They use the Cummins X12 engines. They’re quieter, smoother, and—most importantly—the AC actually works.
- The Specialty Rigs: There are still a few hybrid MCIs (the 4000 series) floating around, but they’re becoming rarer as maintenance costs for those older hybrid systems climb.
Interestingly, NJ Transit has been repainting some of these into "heritage" schemes. If you see a bus with the old "Transport of New Jersey" red and blue stripes, it’s not a ghost. It’s a 2021-era MCI (like #20120) wearing a vintage outfit.
Why the Articulated Bus Roster is Growing
Ever tried to squeeze onto the 126 in Hoboken at 8:15 AM? It's a nightmare. To fix this, NJ Transit has been obsessed with "artics"—those 60-foot buses that bend in the middle.
The NJ Transit bus roster saw a huge jump in articulated units recently. In April 2025, the Board authorized the purchase of another 208 of these giants. Most of these are the New Flyer XD60s. They carry almost double the passengers of a standard bus, which is basically the only way the agency can keep up with the post-pandemic ridership surge on "gold coast" routes.
The Electric Reality Check
Governor Murphy’s administration has talked a big game about the 2032 deadline for zero-emission bus purchases. But let's look at the actual numbers in the 2026 roster.
It’s tiny.
We have eight New Flyer XE40 "Xcelsior CHARGE" buses that have been testing the waters out of the Camden area (Newton Avenue Garage). Recently, they added about 20 more to the order, but compared to a fleet of over 2,200 buses, it's a drop in the bucket.
The problem isn't the buses themselves; it's the garages. Most NJ Transit garages are 50 to 100 years old. They weren't built to handle the massive electrical load required to charge 100 buses at once. To truly change the roster, they have to rebuild the Fairview, Oradell, and Market Street garages from the ground up. That’s a multi-billion dollar project that is still years away from finishing.
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How to Read the Numbers
If you’re a real "bus nut" or just a curious commuter, the numbers on the side of the bus tell the whole story.
- Series 1600-1900: Usually smaller 31-foot or 35-foot buses used for community routes or light-load lines.
- Series 17000-22000: These are your modern MCI cruisers. The first two digits usually give away the order year (e.g., 21367 was part of the 2021 buy).
- Series 25000+: The brand new New Flyer local fleet. If you see a 25201, you're riding on the cutting edge of the current diesel fleet.
Looking Ahead
The move to a "cleaner" NJ Transit bus roster isn't going to happen overnight. For the next few years, expect a "mixed" fleet. You’ll see more New Flyer artics on the busy routes and a slow phase-out of the remaining 2000s-era NABI buses.
If you want to track these yourself, the best way is to keep an eye on the "Board Books" published monthly on the NJ Transit website. They list every single procurement and retirement. You can also use apps like "Transit" which often display the specific bus number assigned to your route, letting you know exactly what kind of machine is about to pull up.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Bus Number: Next time you board, look at the 4 or 5-digit number above the door. If it starts with 25, enjoy the USB ports.
- Monitor Service Changes: With the 2026 World Cup busing plan in motion, NJ Transit is shifting its best buses to routes serving MetLife Stadium. Expect older buses to be relegated to suburban local routes temporarily.
- Voice Your Opinion: The agency is currently taking feedback on its "NJT 2030" plan. If you want more electric buses in your neighborhood, that’s where you make it known.