West Trenton Line (NJ Transit)
| Company type | Commuter rail service (proposed) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founder | NJ Transit |
| Headquarters | Newark, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | New Jersey |
| Owner | NJ Transit (planned) |
| Parent | NJ Transit |
The West Trenton Line is an envisioned commuter rail service under NJ Transit (NJT), intended to operate mainly along the CSX Transportation Trenton Subdivision. This service aims to link West Trenton Station in Ewing Township, New Jersey with Newark Penn Station located in Newark, New Jersey. Additionally, the route would provide connections to the Raritan Valley Line at Bridgewater and to the SEPTA West Trenton Line at West Trenton.
As of 2007, NJT projected the total cost of the initiative at $219 million. While the proposal remains under consideration, no financial backing has been secured thus far.
Former service
Historically, this corridor was part of the Reading Company system, accommodating notable trains such as the Crusader and Wall Street that operated from Reading Terminal in Philadelphia to Communipaw Terminal in Jersey City, later redirected to Newark. Up until 1958, long-distance services by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, including the Royal Blue to Washington, D.C., Capitol Limited (B&O train) to Chicago, and the National Limited to St. Louis, also utilized this line.
The Philadelphia-Newark route eventually received subsidies from both SEPTA and New Jersey Transit. With SEPTA’s transition toward electric-only operations coinciding with the launch of the Center City Commuter Connection in the early 1980s, diesel-powered services were curtailed. Direct through service between Philadelphia and Newark ended on July 30, 1981. SEPTA continued operating its electric West Trenton Line, which linked to a weekday shuttle running between West Trenton and Newark using Budd Rail Diesel Cars. However, this shuttle was discontinued on December 3, 1982, due to significant reductions in federal transit funding during the Reagan administration. Although serving 290 passengers daily, the shuttle incurred annual costs of $319,000. The closure resulted in eliminating stops at Belle Mead, Hopewell, and West Trenton. Despite these changes, New Jersey Transit retained operating rights over this rail corridor.
Proposal
Currently owned by CSX Transportation, the line has had all station platforms removed except for West Trenton, which remains active for SEPTA’s commuter service to Philadelphia along the Trenton Subdivision.
The redevelopment plan proposes installing a second track on critical stretches: a 2.8-mile segment between Sunnymeade Road grade crossing and Port Reading Junction, where the West Trenton Line separates from the Lehigh Line; and a 10-mile segment spanning from Pennington – Hopewell Road Bridge to Belle Mead station. Restoration is also planned for the disused Reading Connector linking Port Reading Junction with the Raritan Valley Line. According to the 2007 proposal, service would include 14 daily trains—five peak-direction trips each way, plus an early morning outbound train to West Trenton, an evening inbound train to Newark, and one midday round trip. The anticipated journey time between West Trenton and Newark is approximately 80 minutes, with expected daily ridership near 2,660 trips. Furthermore, acquisition of 13.1 acres is planned for establishing a rail yard at West Trenton.
Communities along the route, including Hopewell Township, have voiced support for reinstating this rail service.
Proposed New Stations
- West Trenton (Interchange with SEPTA's West Trenton Line)
- I-295 / Hopewell Township
- Hopewell Borough
- Belle Mead
- Hillsborough
From Bridgewater, trains would proceed along the Raritan Valley Line toward Newark Penn Station.