Mike Davis

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NJ Transit is temporarily restoring late-night train service to Shore destinations south of Long Branch, a summertime-only reverse of an unpopular decision to cancel the service last year.

According to updated North Jersey Coast Line schedules, the last train out of New York Penn Station -- which departs at 1 a.m. -- will include "Bay Head shuttle" service to Elberon, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head.

FLASHBACK: NJ Transit cuts Shore service from last train out of New York

But it will only be in operation from June 27 to Sept. 9, the height of the summer tourism season. After that? It's back to normal, stranding Shore residents if they miss an 11:18 p.m. train, more than 90 minutes earlier that leaves barely enough time for concerts and sporting event crowds to make a mad dash to the platform.

If riders miss that train, they have to wait until a 5:32 a.m. train or make other arrangements.

"Our customers are very familiar with schedules changing and, in this context, we have to be very careful about providing service where there's demand," former NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique Hakim said at the time, shortly before leaving NJ Transit for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "Obviously, the schedules for those trains did not have demand for that service."

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The sudden move upset many Shore riders, especially because it came without any public notice: Federal law only requires public hearings for a "major service change" that cuts 25 percent of a line's stops or discontinues it on specific days.

“They didn’t let us know ahead of time. I know they have to cut some trains, because the overall number of travelers at night is probably no comparison to the daytime, but why in heaven’s name would you cut the last train,” Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce trustee Kenneth Roth said in October. “How do you expect people to ride the train if they can get to New York but they can’t get back?”

MORE: Shore riders sound off on NJ Transit late-night train cuts

"Guess we won't be going to concerts or plays in New York anymore if we can't get home within a reasonable hour," one Asbury Park Press reader wrote on Facebook.

The unannounced schedule changes -- which also included late-night service on the Morris & Essex Line -- prompted action by state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, D-Mercer, who sponsored bills that would require NJ Transit to hold public hearings and provide notice prior to any curtailment of bus or rail services.

The Assembly bill was passed in April by a 70 to 2 vote. The Senate bill cleared the Senate Transportation Committee May 2.

READ: New NJ Transit strike threat? Two railroad unions reject contract

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com. Click here to sign up for Mike's weekly "Road Sage" newsletter.