County Yard
| Company type | Rail yard facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Founder | Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Headquarters | New Brunswick and North Brunswick , United States |
| Products | Rail car storage and inspection |
| Owner | Amtrak |
County Yard is a rail yard facility situated along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) at the boundary of New Brunswick and North Brunswick in Central New Jersey. The complex comprises Adams Yard, Delco Lead, and the main County Yard. Initially established by the Pennsylvania Railroad, ownership now rests with Amtrak. Just south of County Yard lies the Jersey Avenue Station, operated by New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJT), serving NJT's Northeast Corridor Line.
In 2014, NJT launched an initiative to transform County Yard into a "train haven," enhancing flood protection through expanded storage and re-inspection capabilities. The redevelopment enlarges the yard to 13 acres, allowing storage for up to 150 electrified passenger rail cars as a safeguard against storms. The Delco Lead section will be extended by five tracks, increasing parking capacity to 312 rail cars and incorporating a new service and inspection center to expedite equipment return to operation. Post-upgrade, County Yard alone will hold 132 rail cars. This project strengthens NJT’s capacity and operational resilience along this vital commuter route.
History
County Yard traces its origins to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) era, positioned where the Millstone Branch historically connected with the mainline now known as the NEC. The yard derives its name from Alexander T. County, a PRR vice-president and treasurer based in New Brunswick. A new tower and interlocking system designated "COUNTY" commenced operation in 1900. Passenger services at this location ceased in 1930.
The Jersey Avenue Park & Ride station began service on October 24, 1963, located at the eastern terminus of the spur line. Following PRR’s succession by Amtrak in 1971, ownership of the NEC was shared with NJT’s Northeast Corridor Line and other regional commuter services.
Delco Lead
The flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 severely damaged nearly 400 NJT rail cars and locomotives stored at flood-prone sites such as Hoboken Yard and Meadows Maintenance Complex within the Kearny Meadows. This event prompted NJT to plan for increased storage capacity for locomotives and cars at two Central Jersey locations. Electrified track totaling five miles at Delco Lead was designated for vehicle storage during severe weather events. Together with County Yard, these facilities will accommodate up to 444 rail vehicles.
In January 2014, NJT awarded a $7.64 million contract to Jacobs Engineering Group to design a "train haven" facility at County Yard aimed at storm-related equipment storage. The Delco Lead Safe Haven Storage and Re-inspection Facility Project includes expansion into the adjacent Mile Run Yard and construction of an inspection facility to comply with federal requirements for re-inspection following weather disruptions.
Additional funding rounds were secured throughout 2015, 2016, and 2017. By 2019, $95 million was allocated toward completing the expansion project. Construction officially commenced in December 2024.
Adams Yard and Mid-Line Loop
Amtrak and NJ Transit are progressing on upgrades to create a high-speed corridor between New Brunswick and Trenton. Key elements include a new station at North Brunswick alongside the Mid-Line Loop—a flying junction combined with a balloon loop situated between MP 36 and MP 37 on the NEC south of both the new station and Amtrak’s Adams Yard. This infrastructure allows trains to reverse direction and enter or exit service without crossing active tracks, improving operational efficiency while providing staging capacity for a mid-line terminal point.
Turboliner storage
In January 2018, Amtrak transferred three abandoned RTL-III Turboliner gas turbine trainsets, previously operated on the Empire Corridor, from Bear, Delaware. Of these, two were relocated to Adams Yard, while one was moved to Cedar Hill Yard in New Haven, Connecticut. These trainsets are presently utilized for staff training purposes, although their ultimate disposition has not been determined. As of November 2024, the units stored at Adams Yard remain alongside several Heritage Fleet baggage cars and a coach.