Somerville station
Somerville | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Somerville station in 2026, looking west from the south platform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | South Bridge Street, Somerville, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°33′58″N 74°36′51″W / 40.5661°N 74.6141°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | NJ Transit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line | Raritan Valley Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 34.7 miles (55.8 km) from Jersey City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections | NJ Transit Bus: 65, 114 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Monthly or daily | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fare zone | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | January 1, 1842 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | November 28, 1856 May 1867 September 1889–November 18, 1890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 432 (average weekday) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 68 of 153 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Somerville station is an active commuter railroad station in the eponymous borough of Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey. Located on South Bridge Street, the station serves trains of NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line between Newark Penn Station in Essex County to High Bridge in Hunterdon County. Somerville station consists of two high-level side platforms that surround two tracks and an intertrack fence. The station has a single parking lot that serve commuters on the southern side and some on-street parking on the northern side of the station. The railroad depot built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1890 stands on the north side of the tracks, serving as a local business.
Somerville station opened on January 1, 1842 with the extension of the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad from Bound Brook. It served as the western terminus of service until September 25, 1848, when the railroad was extended to White House via the Somerville and Easton Railroad. The Central Railroad of New Jersey, which replaced the Elizabethtown and Somerville, replaced the station in 1856 and 1867 and finally in 1889–1890. NJ Transit replaced the low-level side platforms in 2010, with the current station opening on December 7, providing accessibility for handicapped persons.
History
In 2004, the station's parking lot was expanded, toward the two railroad tracks, from the south side, to include parking for another 68 cars. These spaces are no longer available as a construction project is in progress.
At some point, the stationhouse and the train tracks were on the same level. An historical photo of the Somerville station with the tracks in front of it can be seen in the Arcadia Publishing historical photo book Somerset County in Postcards, by Alan A. Siegel, Somerset County Historical Society (ISBN 0-7385-0078-X). In 2009, a reconstruction project began at the station to install high-level platforms and make the station handicap accessible. This project includes new ramps, renovations to the existing tunnel, rehabilitation of the existing freight elevator shafts, a new tunnel headhouse, and demolition of the two existing waiting rooms. It was announced on December 1, 2010 that the high level platforms would open on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 to allow for demolition of the low level platforms and continued platform construction. The historic station depot is being kept.
Starting January 12, 2015, NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line started Midtown Direct service between New York City and Somerville and its surrounding area.
Station layout
The station has two high-level side platforms serving two tracks. Both are 710 feet (220 m) long and can accommodate eight cars.
Bibliography
- Bianculli, Anthony J. (2001). Trains and Technology: Track and Structures. University of Delaware Press. ISBN 9780874138023.
References
- ↑ NJ Transit (2005). NJ Transit Rail Operations: Physical Characteristics. pp. 117–119, 142b, 173–182.
- ↑ "Raritan Valley Line Timetables" (PDF). Newark, New Jersey: New Jersey Transit Rail Operations. November 7, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ↑ "Original Route of New Jersey Central Railroad Followed Old Post Road Between Plainfield, Elizabethport, Historian Says". The Plainfield Courier-News. December 31, 1938. p. 7. Retrieved March 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Bianculli 2001, p. 152.
- ↑ Bianculli 2001, p. 151.
- ↑ "Jottings". The Plainfield Evening News. September 21, 1889. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Somerville Improvements". The Plainfield Evening News. November 18, 1890. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Average Weekday Rail Station Passenger Boardings History, FY 2019–2025 (Report). Newark, New Jersey: NJ Transit. 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ "Somerville Station: New High-Level Platforms Open Tuesday, December 7". Newark, New Jersey: New Jersey Transit Rail Operations. December 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ↑ "NJ Transit Begins Reconstruction of Somerville Station" (Press release). New Jersey Transit. March 27, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ↑ Raritan Valley Line One-Seat Ride Service to Manhattan: Study Report (PDF). Dewberry (Report). NJ Transit. July 10, 2020. pp. 75, 81. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
External links
