Morris County has three NJ Transit rail lines, and which one you are near shapes your whole commute. This guide sorts the county’s stations by line, points out the quirks that catch people out, and explains when a car to the station makes more sense than a parking permit.
The Morristown Line
The busiest of the three runs east–west across the middle of the county. Stations include Chatham, Madison, Convent Station in Morris Township, Morristown, Morris Plains, Denville and Dover, with limited service further west to Mount Arlington, Lake Hopatcong (in Landing) and Netcong.
Many trains start or finish at Dover, which is why commuters from Wharton, Mine Hill and Roxbury often use Dover rather than a closer but quieter station.
The Montclair–Boonton Line
This line serves the north-east: Lincoln Park, Towaco, Mountain Lakes and Boonton. Service is thinner than on the Morristown Line, and there is no one-seat ride into Manhattan from these stations — most trips change on the way. Check the timetable before you rely on a late train home.
The Gladstone Branch
In the south of the county, Long Hill Township has three stations on the branch — Gillette, Stirling and Millington. Trains are less frequent, and outside the rush many journeys into New York involve a change at Summit.
Towns with no station
Plenty of Morris County has no station at all: Randolph, East Hanover, Mendham, Chester, Long Valley, Jefferson and Kinnelon among them. Residents there choose between driving to a station and paying to park, or being dropped off.
Drop-off instead of a parking permit
Station parking in the busier towns can mean a long wait for a permit and a walk from a distant lot. A standing booking — the same car, the same time, every weekday — takes that away, and the evening pickup can move if your train is late. It also means one car in the household can stay at home.
Station-by-station notes
- Denville is a junction: the Montclair–Boonton and Morristown lines meet just west of the station, so it has trains on both. See Denville.
- Dover is where many Morristown Line trains start and finish, which makes it the practical choice for much of the west of the county.
- Mountain Lakes has a handsome stone station building from the 1920s that is now a restaurant — the platforms are still in use.
- Lincoln Park began in 1870 as a freight stop called Beavertown; the present depot dates from 1905.
- Millington’s 1901 stone station now houses a cafe on Long Hill Road, which makes it an easy meeting point.
- Morris Plains station is at Speedwell Avenue and Littleton Road. See Morris Plains.
Choosing a station if you are new to the county
If you are moving to Morris County and will commute to Manhattan, the line matters more than the distance. A slightly longer drive to a Morristown Line station can save time every day compared with a nearer station on a line that needs a change. It is worth looking at the timetable for the exact trains you would use, morning and evening, before choosing where to live.
And if your household has one car, a regular drop-off lets the car stay with whoever needs it during the day.
Missed the last train?
The calls we get most often from commuters are late at night: a missed connection at Summit or Newark, or a last train that has already gone. Call (973) 306-7075 from the platform and we will come and get you.
Frequently asked questions
Which Morris County station has the most trains?
The Morristown Line stations, such as Morristown, Madison and Chatham, have the most frequent service. Dover is where many trains start and end.
Is there a direct train to Manhattan from the Montclair-Boonton Line?
Generally no – most trips from stations such as Towaco and Boonton change on the way.
Can I set up a regular ride to the station?
Yes. We set up standing bookings for the same train each weekday, with evening pickups that follow your train.
Do you pick up at Summit after a missed connection?
Yes. Call from the train and we will meet you.