2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. NJ Transit Arrow III MU 1327: Adam E. Moreira· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. Arrow III MU Princeton Junction: Fan Railer· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The Jersey Arrow is a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) railcar developed for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and used by successive commuter rail operators in New Jersey, through to NJ Transit. Three models were built, but only the third model remains in use today. The series is similar to SEPTA's Silverliner series but include center doors, among other differences in details.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 58 years ago, in 1968.
- 839 kW is about 10 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 9 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 25.9 m long: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
- Still in service after 58 years.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1968
- in service from
- 1968
- status
- in service
- number built
- 335
- kind
- Electric multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- builders
- St. Louis Car Company, General Electric, Avco
- operators
- Penn Central Transportation Company, Conrail, New Jersey Transit
- top speed
- —
- power
- 839 kW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- Overhead line;* Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system, 12 kV 25 Hz AC (Arrow I/II/III), (Arrow II/III)
- wheel arrangement
- B-B (single cars)
- formation
- Arrow I/III: Single unit, Arrow II/III: Twin unit, Married pair
- length
- 25.9 m
- weight
- 56.5 t
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4796109, Wikipedia: Arrow (railcar) (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.