Port Reading Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Fate | Line transferred to Conrail in 1976 |
| Headquarters | New Jersey , United States |
| Parent | Reading Company (historically) |
The Port Reading Railroad was a rail enterprise established in the United States in 1890, completing its primary route by 1892. Throughout its history, it remained under the control of the Reading Company. In 1976, its line was transferred to Conrail and currently operates under the name Port Reading Secondary.
Origins
Starting at Port Reading Junction in Manville, New Jersey, near Bound Brook, New Jersey, the Port Reading Railroad connected with both the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Its track extended eastward across northern Middlesex County, New Jersey to reach the port of Port Reading on the Arthur Kill in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, close to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. This harbor was specifically constructed to accommodate the shipping requirements of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway.
The Port Reading Railroad, together with its adjacent shipping terminal on the Arthur Kill, allowed trains from the Reading Company's Trenton line (initially known as the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad) to provide direct connections between ports in New York and markets located to the south and west. This service was made possible by a link along the Raritan River running from Manville to Bound Brook that joined the Philadelphia and Reading Railway’s Trenton line with the Port Reading Railroad. Remnants of this connection can still be observed along the CSX/NS mainline in this region, including former trestles built by the Reading Company near the river.
20th-century decline
Throughout the 20th century, both the Port Reading Railroad and its parent company, the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, underwent a marked downturn in operations that eventually led to financial insolvency and deterioration. Branch lines such as the Port Reading Railroad were particularly overlooked as their parent firms reduced focus on secondary routes amid shrinking demand.
When Conrail took over many northeastern railroads in 1976, what had been renamed as the Port Reading Secondary was mostly a lightly trafficked route serving local industrial customers. This limited utilization continued through the 1980s and 1990s while Conrail concentrated most southbound freight destined for New York on the Lehigh Line.
Following the division of Conrail between CSX and Norfolk Southern in 1999, the strategic proximity of the Port Reading Secondary to New York City’s consumer base led to its inclusion under Conrail Shared Assets Operations (CSAO). CSAO was established to jointly manage key local rail lines, including this one, providing switching services not only in New York City but also in Philadelphia and Detroit.
The expansion of rail freight during the 1990s—spurred by rising demand and road congestion—motivated CSAO to invest substantial funds into upgrading the Port Reading Secondary. These enhancements enabled it to better accommodate long-haul and intermodal rail traffic. The line now serves as an alternative route to terminals along the Chemical Coast Line, such as Norfolk Southern’s E-Rail Terminal and facilities operated by PANYNJ's ExpressRail.
Currently, the Port Reading Secondary plays a vital role in improving access to CSAO’s terminals within the Port of New York and New Jersey, running adjacent to the Arthur Kill waterway through industrial sectors of eastern New Jersey. Since these improvements were implemented, rail traffic volumes have increased significantly. Signal gates have been installed at multiple crossings in Avenel, Carteret, and Woodbridge Township to facilitate higher train activity while minimizing disruption to local truck movements.