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Long Branch, NJ (77WABC)-NJ Transit has announced the resumption of nearly 60 trains ahead of the critical summer season and increased service for customers as people return to offices and events under the continued economic reopening as the Covid19 viral pandemic wanes.
New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ Transit Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti was joined at Long Branch station by Congressman Frank Pallone, state Senator Vin Gopal, NJ Transit President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett, and Long Branch Mayor John Pallone in making the announcement.
The officials announced that starting on June 6th, the changes include additional summer service on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) Long Branch–Bay Head shuttle trains, as well as restoration of all weekend Gladstone Branch trains. Also, select weekday trains throughout the system are being restored.
“NJ TRANSIT is proud to be restoring such an extensive range of rail service to our system,” said NJ Transit President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “ The addition of the NJCL shuttle trains between Long Branch and Bay Head, along with the restoration of several other trains on many rail lines, will increase the frequency and reliability of rail service throughout our system,” he said.
On weekend days, twelve North Jersey Coast Line trains will be added to provide shuttle service between Long Branch and Bay Head, operating on the weekends through September 11th. This service was temporarily suspended last year due to COVID-19.
Restoration of weekend service on the Gladstone Branch will include the addition of 39 trains between Gladstone and Summit.
Weekday restorations include the following trains which were part of service reductions implemented in August 2020. The following trains will be restored to the schedule:
- Northeast Corridor trains 3124 and 3725 between New Brunswick and PSNY
- Northeast Corridor trains 3834 and 3951 between Trenton and PSNY
- Raritan Valley Line trains 5420, 5444, and 5445 between Raritan and Newark
- Westbound morning NEC Train 3711 is extended from New Brunswick to Trenton, and renumbered as Train 3821, departing PSNY at 7:14 AM
Five trains on the Northeast Corridor and New Jersey Coast Line will be adjusted to better accommodate customers.
- On the NEC, existing local train 3828 will run express from Metropark to Newark Liberty Airport, and arrive at PSNY at 8:53 a.m.
- On the NJCL, two trains that currently depart Long Branch 10 minutes apart and arrive PSNY after 10 a.m. will be rescheduled. Train 3232 will operate 40 minutes earlier to arrive at PSNY at 9:37 a.m. This eliminates a 56-minute gap in peak period service on the NJCL. Train 3232 is renumbered 3228.
- Trains 3506 and 3830 operate about 15 minutes earlier.
- Train 3720, a Metropark express that currently arrives at 9:57 a.m., will make additional local NEC stops and arrive about 10 minutes later.
NJ Transit’s recently announced “While You’ve Been Away” public information campaign is designed to update customers of all the improvements NJ Transit has made across the system to improve their experience as customers return to NJ Transit post-pandemic. Riders can learn more about the information campaign “While You’ve Been Away,” at njtransit.com/progress.
