Holiday buses and light rail cars return to Pittsburgh

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday-themed buses and light-rail cars have returned to Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s fleet.

Six PRT buses and two light-rail cars have been decorated with lights, tinsel, streamers, and paintings to celebrate the winter holidays, according to PRT spokesperson Adam Brandolph. They will run until New Year’s Day.

Brandolph said the vehicles are decorated by the operators, who decide what themes to include and the operators provide their own supplies. He said the decorations bring a lot of joy to commuters, and PRT enjoys supporting the holiday vehicles every year.

One operator has been decorating his bus for more than a decade.

“The joy and excitement it brings to riders when they’re on their way to work or after a long day can’t be understated,” said Brandolph. “Many of our operators care about their riders and want them to have a great experience. Decorating their buses is one small way for them to show that.”

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... ????????
Have you been on a Christmas bus yet? Don't forget to tag us in your photos! pic.twitter.com/sjfTisowyD

— Pittsburgh Regional Transit (@PGHtransit) December 7, 2022

This year, one of the buses has been decorated with the Peanuts comic characters, like Charlie Brown and his friends having a snowball fight. Other buses and light-rail cars are holiday themed with candy canes, red bows, Christmas stockings, and Frosty the Snowman.

Brandolph said there is a “healthy competition” among operators over who can create the most festive vehicle.

The light-rail cars stay on the same tracks, but there is a good chance a holiday bus could be coming to several neighborhoods throughout the holiday season.

Brandolph said each bus operates on various routes throughout the day and, depending on the operator’s schedule, may be on several different routes throughout the week.

Here is a TribLIVE video from 2018 about the Holiday Christmas bus.