NJ Transit Offers Summer Service Options for Beach Goers

NEWARK – NJ Transit is making it convenient and affordable to get to summer shore destinations with express weekend rail service from Penn Station New York to shore communities along the North Jersey Coast Line, the return of weekday late-night Bay Head-Long Branch shuttles, and daily express bus service from Philadelphia to Wildwood and Cape May. 
June 25
The #316 express bus from Philadelphia to Wildwood and Cape May resumes for the summer.  This year, the #316 will conveniently originate on JFK Boulevard just outside the Amtrak 30^th St. Station in Philadelphia providing access to Wildwood and Cape May from the University City section of Philadelphia.  All trips will continue to serve the Greyhound Terminal in Philadelphia and then serve the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, eliminating the need for customers to travel to the Avandale Park and Ride to transfer to the #316.  Also new this year, the #316 will stop at the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood, providing access to the new and popular shopping destination. Beach goers can enjoy service to North Wildwood, Wildwood, Rio Grande and Cape May.  The complete timetable is available at njtransit.com.
June 26
Enhanced Saturday, Sunday and holiday express rail service on the North Jersey Coast Line will operate from June 26 through September 10 and feature the agency’s dual-powered locomotives to provide a one-seat ride. 
“Going ‘down the shore’ is a time honored summer tradition in New Jersey.  So whether you’re traveling from North Jersey or South Jersey, New York or Philadelphia we are providing more options to get you to the fun in the sun,” said NJ TRANSIT Interim Executive Director Dennis J. Martin. “Everyone should experience New Jersey’s beautiful beaches and what better way to relax than a stress-free ride on a bus or train.”
Four round-trip weekend and holiday express trains will operate between Penn Station New York and Bay Head.  This service also features hourly train service between Bay Head and Long Branch from approximately 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Two of the round-trip express trains will be geared to beach travelers, with an additional two round-trips providing service during the early morning and late night timeframes.
The express service will serve Penn Station New York, Secaucus Junction, Newark Penn Station, Elizabeth, Rahway, Aberdeen-Matawan, Red Bank, Long Branch, Asbury Park, and then all station stops to Bay Head, and no need to transfer in Long Branch.  A travel time savings of approximately 25 minutes is expected from the regular travel time between New York and towns such as Belmar, Manasquan and Point Pleasant. 
Seating will be limited aboard the express service.  Customers are strongly encouraged to purchase round-trip tickets or discounted beach packages to Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar (a savings of $5.00) prior to the start of their trip.  NJ Transit beach packages are available at all rail station ticket windows and ticket vending machines except on the Atlantic City rail line.  More information on beach packages is available on njtransit.com. 
Customers can also purchase NJ Transit tickets using MyTix mobile ticketing.  However, beach packages are not currently available on the NJ Transit mobile app.
Express trains will supplement NJ Transit’s regular weekend hourly rail shuttle service between Long Branch and Bay Head, and will operate using the ALP-45 dual-powered locomotives.   These specialized trains operate in electric mode between New York and Long Branch and switch to diesel operation for travel between Long Branch and Bay Head – allowing for the one-seat ride.
Detailed schedules are available on njtransit.com.
June 27
Late-night weekday Bay Head-Long Branch rail shuttles return.  This service was temporarily suspended in October for the winter season.  Late-night shuttles will depart Long Branch at 11:19 p.m. and 2:42 a.m. heading to Bay Head.  In addition, there will be a 9:43 p.m. departure from Bay Head to Long Branch.  This service will run through Sept. 9.