Princeton Branch

Princeton Branch

Company type	Commuter rail line
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1865
Founder	Camden and Amboy Rail Road and Transportation Company
Headquarters	New Jersey , United States
Products	Commuter rail service
Owner	New Jersey Transit

The Princeton Branch, commonly referred to as the Dinky or Princeton Junction and Back (PJ&B), is a commuter rail line under the ownership and operation of New Jersey Transit (NJT) in New Jersey. This brief spur branches off from the Northeast Corridor Line, extending northwest from Princeton Junction to Princeton. Since the closure of Penns Neck station in 1971, there have been no stops between these two points. The branch runs single-track service with special trains composed of one or two cars—making it the shortest scheduled commuter rail route in the United States. The journey duration is approximately five minutes each direction.

Following a request from Princeton University, the line was shortened by 460 feet to accommodate construction of a new University Arts Center, with the updated station opening on November 17, 2014.

Between October 14, 2018, and May 11, 2019, service was temporarily halted and replaced by shuttle bus operations while NJT conducted systemwide installation and testing of positive train control technology.

Service

The Princeton Branch provides direct rail connectivity between Princeton University and Princeton Junction, where passengers can transfer to New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor line. This connection facilitates travel to key metropolitan areas such as Newark, New York City, Boston, Trenton, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. As of 2016, the branch runs 41 weekday round trips utilizing two-car GE Arrow III electric multiple units.

Service suspension 2018–19

In September 2018, NJ Transit announced a suspension of rail service on the Princeton Branch from mid-October 2018 through mid-January 2019, substituting shuttle buses during this period. The interruption extended until May 12, 2019, caused by delays in systemwide implementation and testing of positive train control as well as a shortage of qualified train engineers. It is important to note that the automatic braking system was not installed on the Princeton Branch itself.

Operational milestones

The original Trenton–New Brunswick route established by the Camden and Amboy Rail Road and Transportation Company (C&A) in 1839 passed roughly one mile east of downtown Princeton. The current Princeton Branch commenced operations on May 29, 1865, shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War. Initial passenger service employed a wood-burning steam dummy locomotive, with trips lasting about twenty minutes each way. The line was leased and managed by the Pennsylvania Railroad starting in 1871. Significant developments included realignment and double-tracking in 1905 to manage increased traffic during college football events, conversion to gasoline-electric powered trains in 1933, electrification completed in 1936, followed by a return to single-track operation in 1956. The railroad bridge spanning U.S. Route 1 was replaced in 1994 to accommodate highway widening projects.

Operations transferred to Penn Central Transportation in 1968, which subsequently closed the infrequently used Penns Neck station in 1971. Upon formation of Conrail in 1976, control of the Princeton Branch was initially assigned to Conrail before being transferred to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with NJDOT taking full responsibility in 1984.

University highlights

The Princeton train, affectionately called the "Dinky" or "PJ&B" ("Princeton Junction and Back") by locals, stands as an iconic emblem of Princeton University. It has been referenced in various cultural works, including F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise, the television series Family Ties, and the 1934 Bing Crosby movie She Loves Me Not. Additionally, the train is celebrated in Princeton’s traditional homecoming anthem, "Going Back to Nassau Hall," underscoring its integral role in campus traditions.

One of the train’s most memorable episodes is the Great Dinky Robbery on May 3, 1963. On that day, four men—among them George R. Bunn Jr., heir to the Bunn coffee maker legacy—stopped the train by blocking its path with a parked convertible while dressed in Western-style outfits. They kidnapped four female passengers, who were dating students from the then all-male university, and released them later. Although the university was aware of this event, no formal measures were taken. This episode remains a distinctive part of Princeton’s historical narrative.

Princeton station relocation and controversy

In 2006, Princeton University unveiled plans to build a new arts center that necessitated demolishing the 1918 Princeton station building, shortening the track right-of-way, and establishing a new terminal approximately 460 feet south of the original location. This proposal met resistance from rail advocates concerned that relocating the station would reduce convenience and lead to a decline in ridership, potentially jeopardizing the train’s future. The initiative triggered protests involving community members, students, faculty, and alumni, resulting in the creation of the Save the Dinky campaign alongside several legal disputes. By October 2010, the Princeton Regional Planning Board expressed support for maintaining train service. The newly constructed Princeton station opened on November 17, 2014, coinciding with ongoing development of arts and dining venues nearby. However, by 2017 weekday ridership had dropped by 20 percent compared to figures from 2012—the last full year at the original station.

Proposed Transitway

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission together with New Jersey Transit have examined the Central New Jersey Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit Project featuring a "Dinky Transitway" along the Princeton Branch corridor. This concept combines rail operations with dedicated bus lanes and incorporates a greenway designed for cyclists and pedestrians.

In April 2012, Princeton University put forward an updated proposal for an arts and transit hub that included extending the station’s freight house onto the right-of-way for potential restaurant use. To safeguard this corridor for transportation purposes, the Regional Planning Board enacted an ordinance that could allow extending the transitway into Princeton’s downtown area along Nassau Street. Implementing this plan would require transferring ownership of the trackage away from the university. Subsequent approvals were granted to convert both the station house and expanded freight house into dining establishments. Since 2016, The Dinky Bar & Kitchen has operated within the renovated station building.

Stations

Zone	Location	Station	Miles (km) from NYP	Date opened	Date closed	Connections / Notes
19	West Windsor	Princeton Junction Template:NJT acc	48.4 (77.9)	1864		Amtrak: Northeast Regional, Keystone Service, Vermonter NJ Transit Rail: Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus: Template:NJ bus link
		Penns Neck	49.7 (80.0)	1865–1875	January 31, 1971	Demolished; previously situated just southeast of U.S. Route 1
	Princeton	Princeton Template:NJT acc	51.1 (82.2)	1865, 1918, 2014		NJ Transit Bus: Template:NJ bus link Princeton Tiger Transit: Free-B Commuter, West Line, Stanworth Line