NJ Transit’s 270,000 train riders are already noticing changes in their wallets from the 25-percent fare hike that went into effect on May 1.

On May 23, they will notice changes at the train platform, when more than 30 trains will be discontinued and wait times are expected to increase.

Every line will lose at least two trains.

On May 1, a record-tying 22 percent overall fare hike by NJ Transit — 25 percent for train and interstate bus commuters and 10 percent for local bus and light rail riders — went into effect.

NJ Transit officials anticipated a 3.5 percent to 5 percent drop in ridership, known in transit circles as a “diversion,” as a result of the fare hike.

Below is a summary of the changes by rail line, according to NJ Transit:
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• Atlantic City Rail Line

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 4600 (12:46 a.m. departure from Atlantic City)
Weekday train 4609 (4:24 a.m. from Philadelphia)
Weekend train 4646/4696 (11:47 p.m. departure from Atlantic City)
Weekend train 4653 (1:50 a.m. departure from Philadelphia)
Weekend train 4660 (5:45 a.m. departure from Atlantic City)
Weekend train 4665 (7:54 a.m. departure from Philadelphia)
Approximately 100 customers impacted on weekdays; 425 customers affected on weekends.

Main/Bergen County Line

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 1211 (4:50 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 1218 (6:10 p.m. departure from Waldwick)
Weekday train 1279 (9:15 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 1282 (10:26 p.m. departure from Waldwick)
Approximately 400 customers impacted.

In response to customer feedback:

Trains 1122 will add stops to accommodate customers from train 1218.
Train 1277 will depart Hoboken 25 minutes later to reduce waiting time for train 1279 customers.
Train 1280 will operate 30 minutes later to reduce waiting time for train 1282 customers.

Montclair-Boonton Line

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 1024 (10:21 a.m. departure from Hackettstown)
Weekday train 1025 (12:18 p.m. departure from Montclair State University)
Weekday train 1028 (1:44 p.m. departure from Mount Olive)
Weekday train 1029 (3:15 p.m. departure from Montclair State University)
Weekday train 247 (2:27 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 244 (3:37 p.m. departure from Montclair State University)
Trains 247 and 1029 will be replaced with a new train (#1001).
Train 1000 will be extended to start in Hackettstown as train 1070 (replacing Hackettstown and Mount Olive stops from Morris & Essex Lines train 870).
Approximately 150 customers impacted.

Morris & Essex Lines

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 870 (5:27 a.m. departure from Hackettstown)
Weekday train 873 (7:57 a.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 813 (6:40 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 323 (11:20 a.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 348 (3:06 p.m. departure from Summit)
Weekday train 465 (5:06 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 464 (6:43 p.m. departure from Murray Hill)
Montclair-Boonton Line train 1000 will be extended to start in Hackettstown as train 1070 (replacing the Hackettstown and Mount Olive stops on 870).
Approximately 1000 customers impacted.

In response to customer feedback:

Train 465 customers will be accommodated with revised stopping patterns on adjacent trains. Train 429 will now make stops at East Orange and Brick Church. Train 807 will add stops at Orange, Highland Avenue and Mountain stations.

Train 439 will add stops at Maplewood, Millburn and Short Hills stations for former 813 customers.

North Jersey Coast Line

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 2306 (6:41 a.m. departure from Bay Head)
Weekday train 2309 (5:10 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Weekday train 3517 (7:42 p.m. departure from New York)
Weekday train 3518 (9:13 p.m. departure from South Amboy)
Approximately 1000 customers impacted.

In response to customer feedback:

Train 3224 will add a stop at Woodbridge to accommodate train 2306 customers.
Train 2307 will depart Hoboken 9 minutes later to reduce waiting time for train 2309 customers.
Train 3283 will add a stop at Rahway to accommodate train 3517’s local customers.

Northeast Corridor

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 3916 (6:18 a.m. departure from Trenton)
Weekday train 3171 (5:41 p.m. departure from New York)
Weekday train 3933 (10:01 a.m. departure from New York)
Weekday train 3868 (5:28 p.m. departure from Trenton)
Weekday train 3801 (12:43 a.m. departure from New York)
Approximately 2700 customers impacted.

In response to customer feedback:

Train 3868 customers will be accommodated on one of two trains: Train 3982 will now depart Trenton at 6:15 pm, making all of train 3868’s stops. Also, train 3870 will depart Trenton 21 minutes earlier to give customers a 5:49 pm departure from Trenton.
Local stops will be added to train 3881 to accommodate train 3517’s customers.
Train 3918 will depart Trenton 7 minutes earlier to reduce waiting time for train 3916 customers.
Late-night service will be adjusted to reduce gap created by the elimination of train 3801.

Pascack Valley Line – (Effective June 21, 2010)

To be discontinued or no longer serve N.J. stations:

Weekday train 1600 (4:56 a.m. departure from Spring Valley)
Weekday train 1639 (6:55 p.m. departure from Hoboken)
Approximately 330 New Jersey customers impacted.

Raritan Valley Line

To be discontinued:

Weekday train 5724 (7:19 a.m. departure from High Bridge)
Weekday train 5903 (4:55 p.m. departure from Newark Penn)
Approximately 900 customers impacted.

In response to customer feedback:

Trains 5718, 5420 and 5422 will add stops to accommodate customers from train 5724. Trains 5420 and 5422 will arrive later in Newark.
Train 5733 will make local stops to accommodate customers from train 5903.

(Source: NJ Star ledger)