This Is The Shortest Train in the United States | Half as Interesting

The Gist

The shortest passenger train route in the United States is the Dinky, a 2.7-mile shuttle connecting Princeton University to Princeton Junction in New Jersey. Despite urban planning pressure and proposals for replacement, it survives as a historical compromise between the university and the Northeast Corridor.

Quick Overview

The Dinky is the shortest passenger train route in the United States, operating over a 2.7-mile stretch between Princeton and Princeton Junction, New Jersey, for over 160 years. While realignments of the main Northeast Corridor railroad in the 1860s bypassed Princeton entirely, the town secured a dedicated branch line to maintain its connection to major urban hubs like New York and Philadelphia. Despite recurring proposals to replace the rail line with bus rapid transit or light rail due to its short length and campus-edge terminal, it endures as a celebrated historical transit link.

Key Points: The Dinky operates over a distance of 2.7 miles between Princeton and Princeton Junction in New Jersey, taking roughly five minutes to complete the trip. The rail line opened on May 29, 1865, originally utilizing a wood-burning steam train that frequently struggled with hills and schedules. The route was established because the main Northeast Corridor railroad was relocated in 1863 to a straighter path that bypassed Princeton by over three miles. NJ Transit has repeatedly considered alternatives to the Dinky, including light rail, bus rapid transit, and protected pedestrian paths, costing up to 101 million dollars. The Princeton terminal was moved multiple times over the decades, shifting from Princeton Basin to Blair Hall in 1896, and finally to its current location in 2013 to make room for an arts complex. The Dinky currently operates 47 trips each way on weekdays and 31 trips each way on weekends, perfectly timed to connect passengers with Northeast Corridor trains.

Context: The Northeast Corridor is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States, stretching between Washington, D.C. and Boston. Along this heavily trafficked route lies Princeton, New Jersey, home to the world-famous Princeton University, which required a specialized connection to the main railway to prevent isolation.