After a year of temporary housing, Princeton’s Dinky train station — at the end of the track that links the town to the main line of the Northeast Corridor at Princeton Junction — has reopened in its new home.
Trains began rolling early Monday morning, November 17, from the station, located 460 feet further away from the heart of town than its predecessor. The relocation, fought tooth and nail by a citizens’ group, was caused by Princeton University’s development of the train station area as part of its new Arts and Transit neighborhood. That project has also replaced the intersection of Alexander Street and University Place with a roundabout and has caused the relocation of the Wawa convenience store on University Place to a new building next to the new station.
The new Wawa will hold a grand opening on Friday, November 21, at 10 a.m. with festivities that include Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert, Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens, who will speak about Wawa’s 40th anniversary in Princeton, and future economic impact in the area; and Eden Autism Services CEO Peter Bell, who will speak about Wawa’s employment opportunities for adults with autism.
An official opening ceremony for Princeton Station will be held on Tuesday, November 25, at 1:15 p.m.
Rick Joy, a Tucson, Arizona-based architect, designed the new station and Wawa building. The station will be open 30 minutes before the first train each day and close 30 minutes after the last. Ticket machines are located on the platform.
