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Essex Street (NJT station)
Encyclopedia
Essex Street, known as Hackensack during the Erie Railroad
era, is a New Jersey Transit
rail station on the Pascack Valley Line
. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack
, New Jersey
and is located at Essex Street, three blocks from Polifly Road. The Anderson Street
station is also located in Hackensack. This line runs to Hoboken Terminal
with connections via the Secaucus Junction
transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station
and to other NJ Transit rail service. The Pascack Valley line services this station seven days a week.
The first station house was built in 1860 by the Hackensack and New York Railroad on a track extension from Passaic Street in Hackensack. The station was turned over to the Erie Railroad
in 1896, serving as a partial headquarters before being moved to Hillsdale
and New Jersey Transit in 1983. The station was once the southernmost of four stations in Hackensack, which included stations at Anderson Street, Fairmount Avenue
, and Central Avenue.
. The station has a lone platform on the southbound side for the one track heading through the station. There are two parking lots on either side of the station, with a large 186-space station on Essex Street behind the platform maintained by Park America. This lot has six handicap-accessible spaces and are free on evening, weekends and nights. The second lot, on the opposite side of the station, contains fifty spaces, also is maintained by Park America. However, this lot only has permit parking and contains no handicap-accessible spaces. The station also has bicycle lockers and one ticket vending machine (TVM) for commuter use. The station is also serviced by several New Jersey Transit buses: the 76, 144, 162, 164, 165, 178, 712, 772 and 780. The station is 14 minutes from Secaucus Junction
, 24 minutes from Hoboken Terminal
and is 39 minutes from Spring Valley
. All trains along the Pascack Valley Line serve this station.
The original alignment of the Essex Street station dates back to the chartering of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1856 by David P. Patterson and other investors. Their intent in creating the rail line was to help maintain a steam-powered train line in the Pascack Valley
and have future ambitions to build the system northward. Construction on the new 21 miles (33.8 km) long line began in 1866, with trains heading from New York City
to the Passaic Street station in Hackensack. Although Hackensack was not a large hub, there were several rail lines serving the city, including the New Jersey Midland Line (now the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) with stops at Main Street (at the Mercer Street intersection) and at Prospect Avenue. During the 1860s, service was extended to north, terminating at the new Essex Street station. Although most Hackensack and New York trains ended at Passaic Street, service was extended northward on September 5, 1869, when that stop was abandoned in replacement for three brand new stops: Anderson Street
, Fairmount Avenue
and Central Avenue. By 1870, the tracks had been extended northward to Hillsdale
, and public service began on the line on March 4 of that year. Trains terminated at Hillsdale with fare of only $0.75 (1870 USD), but just one year later, the service was extended northward to the community of Haverstraw, New York
, and in 1896, the rail line was leased by the private company to the Erie Railroad
.
served as headquarters for the New Jersey and New York Railroad, the headquarters was once located in the Essex Street Station. During the Erie Railroad days, this was one of four stations in Hackensack, alongside Anderson Street, Central Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, but the station was not signed as such. Instead, the Essex Street Station was known as Hackensack Station. The old building, which was designed in a more medieval style for the Erie, had a low concrete platform with long set of green pillars stretching to Essex Street. There was a small parking lot behind the station, which had a large entranceway and large bay window. The 1893 station depot burned in 1970. In 1976, the Erie Lackawanna was combined with several other railroads to create the Consolidated Rail Corporation
, who continued maintenance of the New Jersey and New York Line for the next seven years, until the newly-formed New Jersey Transit
took over the station in 1983. The station was also renamed to Essex Street in accordance with the amount of stations. In 2002, during a long state-wide construction of park and rides, the Essex Street station received thirty-six new parking spots for Hackensack as part of the New Jersey Transit "Back To Basics" strategy.
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
era, is a New Jersey Transit
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...
rail station on the Pascack Valley Line
Pascack Valley Line
The Pascack Valley Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Hoboken Division of New Jersey Transit. The line runs north from Hoboken, New Jersey through Bergen County and into Rockland County, New York, terminating at Spring Valley. Service within New York is operated under contract with...
. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and is located at Essex Street, three blocks from Polifly Road. The Anderson Street
Anderson Street (NJT station)
Anderson Street Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, and is located at Anderson Street near Linden Street. The Essex Street station is also located in Hackensack...
station is also located in Hackensack. This line runs to Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
with connections via the Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
and to other NJ Transit rail service. The Pascack Valley line services this station seven days a week.
The first station house was built in 1860 by the Hackensack and New York Railroad on a track extension from Passaic Street in Hackensack. The station was turned over to the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
in 1896, serving as a partial headquarters before being moved to Hillsdale
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.The populated area today known as Hillsdale took form in the mid-to-late 19th century as land speculators, led by David P. Patterson, developed subdivisons to profit from the...
and New Jersey Transit in 1983. The station was once the southernmost of four stations in Hackensack, which included stations at Anderson Street, Fairmount Avenue
Fairmount Avenue (NJT station)
Fairmount Avenue Station is a former New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station was one of three rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, and was located at Fairmount Avenue and Temple Avenue. The Essex Street and Anderson Street stations are also located...
, and Central Avenue.
Station layout and services
Essex Street Station is located at the intersection of Essex Street, Railroad Avenue and John Street in the city of HackensackHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
. The station has a lone platform on the southbound side for the one track heading through the station. There are two parking lots on either side of the station, with a large 186-space station on Essex Street behind the platform maintained by Park America. This lot has six handicap-accessible spaces and are free on evening, weekends and nights. The second lot, on the opposite side of the station, contains fifty spaces, also is maintained by Park America. However, this lot only has permit parking and contains no handicap-accessible spaces. The station also has bicycle lockers and one ticket vending machine (TVM) for commuter use. The station is also serviced by several New Jersey Transit buses: the 76, 144, 162, 164, 165, 178, 712, 772 and 780. The station is 14 minutes from Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
, 24 minutes from Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
and is 39 minutes from Spring Valley
Spring Valley, New York
Spring Valley, incorporated on July 9, 1902 is a village spanning the Town of Ramapo and Town of Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Nanuet; east of Airmont and Monsey; south of Hillcrest and west of West Nyack...
. All trains along the Pascack Valley Line serve this station.
Hackensack and New York Railroad
Pascack Valley
The Pascack Valley is the name for a region of New Jersey, United States, contained within Bergen County. It is named for the Pascack Brook, which defines the valley...
and have future ambitions to build the system northward. Construction on the new 21 miles (33.8 km) long line began in 1866, with trains heading from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to the Passaic Street station in Hackensack. Although Hackensack was not a large hub, there were several rail lines serving the city, including the New Jersey Midland Line (now the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) with stops at Main Street (at the Mercer Street intersection) and at Prospect Avenue. During the 1860s, service was extended to north, terminating at the new Essex Street station. Although most Hackensack and New York trains ended at Passaic Street, service was extended northward on September 5, 1869, when that stop was abandoned in replacement for three brand new stops: Anderson Street
Anderson Street (NJT station)
Anderson Street Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, and is located at Anderson Street near Linden Street. The Essex Street station is also located in Hackensack...
, Fairmount Avenue
Fairmount Avenue (NJT station)
Fairmount Avenue Station is a former New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station was one of three rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, and was located at Fairmount Avenue and Temple Avenue. The Essex Street and Anderson Street stations are also located...
and Central Avenue. By 1870, the tracks had been extended northward to Hillsdale
Hillsdale (NJT station)
Hillsdale Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Hillsdale, New Jersey and is located at Broadway and Hillsdale Avenue....
, and public service began on the line on March 4 of that year. Trains terminated at Hillsdale with fare of only $0.75 (1870 USD), but just one year later, the service was extended northward to the community of Haverstraw, New York
Haverstraw, New York
Haverstraw is the name of two locations in Rockland County, New York:*Haverstraw, New York, a town*Haverstraw , New York, a village located entirely within the townIt may also refer to:*West Haverstraw, New York*Haverstraw Bay*Haverstraw Indians...
, and in 1896, the rail line was leased by the private company to the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
.
Erie Railroad station and recent history
After the leasing of the New Jersey and New York Railroad to the Erie Railroad, the history of Essex Street station remained rather quiet, with minor changes to the station building and site occurring over the next sixty years. Although the Hillsdale StationHillsdale (NJT station)
Hillsdale Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Hillsdale, New Jersey and is located at Broadway and Hillsdale Avenue....
served as headquarters for the New Jersey and New York Railroad, the headquarters was once located in the Essex Street Station. During the Erie Railroad days, this was one of four stations in Hackensack, alongside Anderson Street, Central Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, but the station was not signed as such. Instead, the Essex Street Station was known as Hackensack Station. The old building, which was designed in a more medieval style for the Erie, had a low concrete platform with long set of green pillars stretching to Essex Street. There was a small parking lot behind the station, which had a large entranceway and large bay window. The 1893 station depot burned in 1970. In 1976, the Erie Lackawanna was combined with several other railroads to create the Consolidated Rail Corporation
Consolidated Rail Corporation
The Consolidated Rail Corporation, commonly known as Conrail , was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeast U.S. between 1976 and 1999. The federal government created it to take over the potentially profitable lines of bankrupt carriers, including the Penn Central Transportation Company and...
, who continued maintenance of the New Jersey and New York Line for the next seven years, until the newly-formed New Jersey Transit
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...
took over the station in 1983. The station was also renamed to Essex Street in accordance with the amount of stations. In 2002, during a long state-wide construction of park and rides, the Essex Street station received thirty-six new parking spots for Hackensack as part of the New Jersey Transit "Back To Basics" strategy.