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Princeton Dinky

The Dinky connects downtown Princeton, NJ and the Princeton University campus with Princeton Junction Station on the Northeast Corridor, the train superhighway connecting Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Here are four tips to get to Princeton Junction & Back!

  • Try the Dinky! If you usually drive, now is a good time to try transit to avoid traffic congestion. The Dinky runs directly from downtown Princeton to Princeton Junction with no intermediate stops.
  • Seven and Five. The Dinky runs seven days a week, and it's a quick five minutes between Princeton and Princeton Junction. Because of the road closure, the Dinky may be busier than usual, so give yourself extra time. The Dinky runs from early morning to late night, and is timed to connect with Northeast Corridor trains.
  • Revise Your Ride. Princeton University will reimburse 50% of the cost of a monthly train pass for eligible Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students.
  • Go Mobile! The NJ TRANSIT App is your ticket to transit. Use it to check Dinky schedules and buy your ticket ahead of time.

 

 

From Princeton Junction, NJ TRANSIT provides Northeast Corridor service between New York, where connecting service is available on Amtrak, New York City Subway, and the Long Island Rail Road, and Trenton, where connecting service is available on SEPTA, Amtrak, and the River Line to Camden.

The Dinky runs from from early morning to late night, and its schedule is timed to connect with Northeast Corridor trains. The Dinky can wait a couple of minutes beyond scheduled departure, but waiting too long would cause cascading delays in the Dinky's schedule.

In the event of a service issue, buses replace the Dinky, and continue to provide service between Princeton and Princeton Junction.

Follow the NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor account on Twitter, and set push notifications in the NJ TRANSIT App for updates on Dinky service.

Dinky History

The Camden & Amboy, New Jersey's first railroad, constructed the spur connecting Princeton to Princeton Junction when it moved its mainline to the present day alignment to reduce curves and improve service. Service on the Dinky, named for the small steam-powered car that operated on the line, began service on May 29, 1865. The line was electrified in 1933, and a new station was opened in 2014. Princeton University's Mudd Manuscript Library offers more Dinky history, including a collection of historic photographs.