Elizabeth (NJT station)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Station is a New Jersey Transit
station 15.4 miles southwest of New York on the Northeast Corridor
and North Jersey Coast
lines in Elizabeth, New Jersey
. It is between Broad Street and West Grand Street on an embankment
and a viaduct
. This station is often called Broad Street Elizabeth to distinguish it from North Elizabeth station
. A number of bus lines have stops
near this station.
At the station the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad
(today's Northeast Corridor
) crossed over the tracks of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
(CNJ); both railroads had stations there and passengers could transfer between them. The CNJ right-of-way
in Elizabeth is now abandoned, and passenger trains which serve the former CNJ mainline (New Jersey Transit's Raritan Valley Line
service) bypass Elizabeth via the Aldene Connection
on their way to Newark Penn Station
. The CNJ line station suffered from a freight train
wreck on November 4, 1972 when a boxcar
derailed
and pulled several other cars into the canopy. Although the buildings and freight cars were damaged, there were no injuries.
The proposed Union County Light Rail
, which would have connected midtown Elizabeth with Newark Airport
, would have had its western terminus at this station. The station for this line would have been referred to as Midtown Station to distinguish from the other stations in Elizabeth on this line.
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
station 15.4 miles southwest of New York on the Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor Line
The Northeast Corridor Line is a commuter rail operation run by New Jersey Transit along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. It is the successor to commuter services provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad along the section between Trenton, New Jersey and New York Penn Station...
and North Jersey Coast
North Jersey Coast Line
The North Jersey Coast Line is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail service operating between New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal and Bay Head, New Jersey...
lines in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. It is between Broad Street and West Grand Street on an embankment
Embankment (transportation)
To keep a road or railway line straight or flat, and where the comparative cost or practicality of alternate solutions is prohibitive, the land over which the road or rail line will travel is built up to form an embankment. An embankment is therefore in some sense the opposite of a cutting, and...
and a viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
. This station is often called Broad Street Elizabeth to distinguish it from North Elizabeth station
North Elizabeth (NJT station)
North Elizabeth Station is a lightly used New Jersey Transit station on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines on North Avenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey....
. A number of bus lines have stops
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
near this station.
At the station the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(today's Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
) crossed over the tracks of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
(CNJ); both railroads had stations there and passengers could transfer between them. The CNJ right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
in Elizabeth is now abandoned, and passenger trains which serve the former CNJ mainline (New Jersey Transit's Raritan Valley Line
Raritan Valley Line
The Raritan Valley Line is a diesel-engine-powered commuter rail service operated by New Jersey Transit , originating out of Pennsylvania Station, located in Newark, New Jersey, with most trains terminating at the Raritan station, located in Raritan, New Jersey.Some weekday trains continue further...
service) bypass Elizabeth via the Aldene Connection
Aldene Connection
The Aldene Connection is a connection between two railroad lines in Roselle Park, New Jersey, United States, one formerly belonging to the Central Railroad of New Jersey , the other formerly of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, allowing trains on the New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line to travel from...
on their way to Newark Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (Newark)
Pennsylvania Station is a major transportation hub in Newark, New Jersey. Located at Raymond Plaza, between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Newark Penn Station is served by the Newark Light Rail, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, Amtrak long distance trains, the PATH rapid transit system, and...
. The CNJ line station suffered from a freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
wreck on November 4, 1972 when a boxcar
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
derailed
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
and pulled several other cars into the canopy. Although the buildings and freight cars were damaged, there were no injuries.
The proposed Union County Light Rail
Union County Light Rail
The Union County Light Rail was a proposed light rail system connecting Newark Airport to midtown Elizabeth, New Jersey.-Project details and status:...
, which would have connected midtown Elizabeth with Newark Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, would have had its western terminus at this station. The station for this line would have been referred to as Midtown Station to distinguish from the other stations in Elizabeth on this line.