8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 22, 2002 (August 16,
2002)

                      ATLANTIC EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION CORP.
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               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)


        New York                    0-24247                       13-3924567
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(State or other jurisdic-         (Commission                   (IRS Employer
 tion of incorporation)           File Number)               Identification No.)

7 North Street, Staten Island, New York                             10302
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(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (718) 442-7000



Item 3. Bankruptcy or Receivership

      On August 16, 2002, Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. (the "Company")
and each of its wholly owned subsidiaries, other than Atlantic North Casualty
Corp., filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United
States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") in the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the Southern District of New York. The cases are being jointly
administered under the case of Metro Affiliates, Inc., case number 02-42560
(PCB). Pursuant to Sections 1107 and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Company
and its subsidiaries remain in possession of their assets and continue to
operate as debtors in possession.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

      (c)   Exhibits

            99.1  Statement issued by Atlantic Express  Transportation  Corp. on
                  August 16, 2002.

                                   Signatures

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       ATLANTIC EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION CORP.


August 22, 2002                        By: \s\ Domenic Gatto
                                          --------------------------------------
                                               Domenic Gatto, CEO

EX-99.1

                                  Exhibit 99.1

               [Atlantic Express Transportation Corp. Letterhead]

               STATEMENT BY ATLANTIC EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION CORP.
              ATLANTIC EXPRESS TO CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL DURING
                                 REORGANIZATION

On August 16, 2002, Atlantic Express  Transportation Corp., a provider of school
bus  transportation,  paratransit and commuter  services,  and its  subsidiaries
filed  a  petition  under  Chapter  11 for  reorganization.  Our  transportation
services will continue as usual without  interruption  during the reorganization
process.

We will continue to transport  school  children  throughout the country with the
same  care and  quality  of  transportation  as we have  rendered  over the last
quarter century to hundreds of satisfied  school  districts and other customers.
We will have adequate financing to continue  operations without any reduction in
the scope or quality of our services and our employees  will continue to receive
their salary and benefits to which they are entitled.  We are currently  gearing
up our fleet for another successful start of the school year in September.

The filing was  necessitated  by  skyrocketing  costs for  automobile  liability
insurance,  workers compensation insurance,  health and welfare benefits for our
workforce and the continued  subsidizing of escort services provided in New York
City.

We expect to emerge from Chapter 11  reorganization  as a stronger company which
will continue to service the needs of our many customers.

Atlantic Express is the largest American-owned American-based school bus company
operating  approximately  7,500 vehicles from coast to coast.  We are one of the
largest school transportation providers in the cities of New York, Philadelphia,
St. Louis, Chicago and Los Angeles. Atlantic is also one of the nation's largest
providers   of   paratransit   service   and   provides   coach   and   charter,
pre-kindergarten transportation as well as bus sales and bus leasing.

For additional information, please contact:

     Domenic Gatto, CEO/President
     Nathan Schlenker, CFO
     Telephone: (718) 442-7000

Information contained in this statement other than statements of historical fact
are  forward-looking  statements  subject  to various  risks and  uncertainties.
Although   Atlantic   believes   that  the   expectations   reflected   in  such
forward-looking  statements are reasonable,  no assurance can be given that such
expectations will prove correct.