UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                                                  Commission File Number 0-24247

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check One):   |_| Form 10-K    |_| Form 11-K     |_| Form 20-F    |_| Form 10-Q

|_|   Form N-SAR
      For Period Ended: December 31, 2001

|_|   Transition Report on Form 10-K
|_|   Transition Report on Form 20-F
|_|   Transition Report on Form 11-K
|_|   Transition Report on Form 10-Q
|_|   Transition Report on Form N-SAR

      For the Transition Period Ended: _________________________________________

      Read attached instruction sheet before preparing form. Please print or
type.

      Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
verified any information contained herein.

      If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above,
identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:

                                     PART I
                             REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Full name of registrant:       Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.

Former name if applicable:

________________________________________________________________________________

Address of principal executive office (Street and number)

                                 7 North Street

City, state and zip code        Staten Island, New York  10302-1205



                                     PART II
                             RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

      If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or
expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)


|X|   (a)   The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form
            could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;


|X|   (b)   The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report on
            Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof will be
            filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the
            prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly report or transition
            report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed on or before
            the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due date; and

|_|   (c)   The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule
            12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

                                    PART III
                                    NARRATIVE

      State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Form 10-K, 11-K, 20-F,
10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed
within the prescribed time period. (attach extra sheets if needed)

      The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
December 31, 2001 cannot be filed within the prescribed time period without
unreasonable effort or expense due to the retirement of the Registrant's former
chief financial officer on January 7, 2002 and the necessity of the Registrant's
new chief financial officer to become familiar with the finances of the
Registrant, as he had no prior association with the Registrant.

                                     PART IV
                                OTHER INFORMATION

      (1)   Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
            notification

      Alan Rubinfeld                         (718)            442-7000
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      (Name)                                 (Area Code)      (Telephone Number)


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      (2)   Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d)
            of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the
            Investment Company Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for
            such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
            report(s) been filed? If answer is no, identify report(s).

                                                                  |X| Yes |_| No

      (3)   Is it anticipated that any significant changes in results of
            operations from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year
            will be reflected by the earnings statements to be included in the
            subject report or portion thereof?

                                                                  |_| Yes |X| No

      If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.


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                      Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: February 15, 2002           By: /s/ Alan Rubinfeld
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Alan Rubinfeld
                                             Chief Financial Officer

      Instruction: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the
registrant or by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of
the person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature. If
the statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized
representative (other than an executive officer), evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed
with the form.


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