Trains To New Brunswick: Routes And Services

New Brunswick, New Jersey, is easily accessible by train. The city's train station is located on French and Albany Street, between Easton and George Street, and is within walking distance of Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and the Johnson & Johnson world headquarters. There are two daily trains from New York to New Brunswick, with the fastest Amtrak Palmetto train making the trip in 38 minutes. Alternatively, if you're in Canada, you can take VIA Rail's Ocean train to get to New Brunswick by rail.

Trains from New York to New Brunswick

There are a few different ways to get from New York to New Brunswick by train. The journey is approximately 28 miles or 45 kilometres, and usually takes around 41 minutes. The fastest route is 38 minutes, via the Amtrak Palmetto train.

The Amtrak Palmetto is one of three train lines that operate between New York and New Brunswick. The other two are the Amtrak Northeast Regional and the NC train. The Northeast Regional is the busiest and most popular route, with two trips on the weekends. Tickets for this route can be purchased for as little as $11 one-way. The Amtrak Palmetto route has an average ticket price of $11 one-way, and the NC train costs between $3.50 and $16.75.

The main departure station in New York is Penn Station, and the main arrival station in New Brunswick is the Transit Station on French Street and Albany Street. The New Brunswick Amtrak Station is also nearby.

There are also several bus lines that connect New York and New Brunswick.

New Brunswick Station in New Jersey

The station offers daily and monthly parking options in nearby lots, with varying rates for residents and non-residents. For example, Lot 3 on 90 Paterson Street offers daily parking for $22 per day or $175 per month for both residents and non-residents.

The ticket office hours at New Brunswick Station are 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, and 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sunday. There are also ticket vending machines available.

The station building, constructed in 1903, is a multimodal station that provides access to various platforms and trains. It is served by Amtrak and NJ Transit trains, connecting passengers to destinations in Newark, New York, and beyond.

In terms of accessibility, the station provides ADA access to the Eastbound Platform via elevator towers located adjacent to the station building and east of the building, near the Johnson & Johnson parking deck.

New Brunswick Amtrak Station

The New Brunswick Amtrak Station, located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is a multimodal station that was built in 1903. The address of the station is Amtrak/NJ Transit Station French and Albany Streets, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. It is within easy walking distance of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Johnson & Johnson world headquarters, and Rutgers University. The station is also close to the historic main campus of Rutgers University.

The New Brunswick Amtrak Station is served by New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and Amtrak's Crescent, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, and Palmetto lines. For New Jersey Transit trains, the next station to the southwest is Jersey Avenue, while the next station to the northeast is Edison. For Amtrak services, the next station to the southwest is Princeton Junction, and the next station to the northeast is Metropark.

The New Brunswick Amtrak Station consists of two handicap-accessible side platforms surrounding four tracks. The station is located in the heart of downtown and is a true intermodal centre, accommodating Amtrak intercity passenger trains, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, local and regional buses, and Rutgers University shuttles. There are also more than a dozen bike racks in front of the building for cyclists.

The station building is a two-story structure constructed of light brown brick, capped with a hipped roof. The first floor contains a few retail spaces, and passengers can ascend to the second floor via a staircase or escalator to reach the waiting room. The waiting room features vertical paneled wainscoting on the lower portion of the walls and plastered walls above, culminating in an entablature with a pronounced cornice. The ceiling follows the hipped roofline, creating a sense of airiness enhanced by the natural light that enters through the dormers and windows.

The New Brunswick Amtrak Station is an important transportation hub, providing easy access to various destinations in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. It offers a convenient and efficient way to travel for both commuters and visitors to the area.

VIA Rail's Ocean train to New Brunswick

VIA Rail's Ocean train takes passengers on a journey across Canada's Maritime provinces, from Montreal in Quebec to Halifax in Nova Scotia. Along the way, passengers can enjoy the beauty of New Brunswick, with its unique landscapes, sandy beaches, and laid-back cities.

The Ocean train offers Sleeper Plus and Economy Class tickets, with meals included for Sleeper Plus passengers. While there are no organised activities on board, passengers can enjoy the scenery as the train travels between the peaks of the Appalachians and the great tides of Fundy Bay.

New Brunswick, located between the sea and the forest, offers a range of outdoor activities. Passengers can explore the Restigouche area, with its forests, rivers, and mountains, or visit the Daly Point Nature Reserve, home to migratory birds and Acadian forests. The Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail, a 140-kilometre path along the Nepisiguit River, offers hiking and picturesque views.

For those interested in history and culture, the city of Miramichi, known as "Canada's Irish capital", offers fishing stories and local legends, as well as annual events celebrating local folklore. The Central New Brunswick Woodmen's Museum in Boiestown provides a glimpse into the province's logging camp past, while the Metepenagiag Heritage Park immerses visitors in Native culture.

The Greater Moncton Area, including Moncton, Dieppe, and Riverview, showcases a blend of English and French Acadian cultures, along with urban experiences and outdoor activities. The area is known for its festivals, cultural venues, and delicious food, including Shediac, the lobster capital of the world.

New Brunswick Southern Railway

The New Brunswick Southern Railway Company Limited (NBSR) is a Canadian short-line railway owned by the New Brunswick Railway Company Limited, a holding company within the conglomerate J. D. Irving. NBSR was established in 1994 to purchase the physical railway assets of the Canadian Pacific Railway within New Brunswick, including the McAdam Subdivision and the West Saint John Spur.

NBSR's main line begins at Mill Street in Saint John, extending 84.4 miles to the yard at McAdam, and then continues for 5.6 miles on the Mattawamkeag Subdivision to the International Boundary at the Saint Croix-Vanceboro Railway Bridge, where it continues into the US as the Eastern Maine Railway (EMRY). NBSR also operates 41.7 miles of branch lines in New Brunswick, including the West Saint John Spur, the St. Stephen Subdivision, and the Milltown Spur.

Together with EMRY, NBSR forms a continuous 189.5-mile main line connecting Saint John, New Brunswick, with Brownville Junction, Maine. NBSR directly interchanges with other railways at St. Stephen, NB, and Saint John, NB, and through EMRY, it interchanges at Mattawamkeag, ME, and Brownville Junction, ME.

NBM Railways, of which NBSR is a part, provides seamless connections to major railways, allowing goods to flow across North America. The company has received numerous safety and transportation industry awards and is committed to providing reliable, safe, and environmentally friendly service.

Frequently asked questions