Passenger Trains > [NJ] NJ Transit Somerville gets high level platforms

Somerville NJ is a station on the NJ Transit former Jersey Central line. The once wealthy town has an impressive small stone station (now a law firm's office), and a two track main line. At one point, the branch to Duke esate, Flagtown and Flemington diverged from the station's wye.

The original westbound (to Scranton, Hampton, High Bridge, etc) shelter has been demolished. A new six car elevated platform is under construction. The eastbound platform is intact, as is the shelter. A new high level platform is underway on the eastbound side. The small station on the eastbound (toward Newark) station will be retained. It looks like the tunnel between the parking areas and the westbound platform will be retained, and new elevators will be installed.

The new westbound platform comes first. The eastbound platform is second. I'd guess this platform could support an M1A tank, it's really well built.

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When was the Somerville Station closed and converted to non-rail use? I could have sworn I purchased my ticket at the train station in the past decade or so. Also, was the CNJ ROW through here 4 tracks or 2 tracks. The "West Trenton" line diverged at Somerville didn't it (or Bound Brook)? Wherever the line diverged, that's where I believe the line went from four tracks to two tracks if one were heading westbound.

Raritan Valley Line has slowly been getting its high level platforms - and even more substantial stations for that matter from the glory days of when the CNJ ran the line. This line needs to be extended to at least the Philipsburg area in the world's worst way - or even on to the Lehigh Valley - particularly Easton-Bethlehem-Allentown. It's a college town mecca out there, in addition to bedroom communities for businesses in Newark and NYC. And of course there's now the casino in Bethlehem.

< When was the Somerville Station closed and converted to non-rail use? I could have sworn I purchased my ticket at the train station in the past decade or so. Also, was the CNJ ROW through here 4 tracks or 2 tracks. The "West Trenton" line diverged at Somerville didn't it (or Bound Brook)? Wherever the line diverged, that's where I believe the line went from four tracks to two tracks if one were heading westbound. >

I have lived in the vicinity 18 years, and it was long gone in 1992. The ROW was 4 tracks to Raritan, then 2 beyond. Now it is all half that. Somerville's platforms were once island platforms as it was an express station. At most other stations, the platforms sit on the old locals track ROW. West Trenton diverged at Bound Brook.

< Raritan Valley Line has slowly been getting its high level platforms - and even more substantial stations for that matter from the glory days of when the CNJ ran the line. This line needs to be extended to at least the Philipsburg area in the world's worst way - or even on to the Lehigh Valley - particularly Easton-Bethlehem-Allentown. It's a college town mecca out there, in addition to bedroom communities for businesses in Newark and NYC. And of course there's now the casino in Bethlehem. >

Beyond Raritan, ridership is 400 each way per day. Beyond High Bridge, it is a very difficult business case to extend service. 94% of western I-78's traffic does not get east of Somerset County. Most NY commuters( the 6%) are on Trans Bridge buses from Clinton out to Bethlehem and are much faster than the train.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> < When was the Somerville Station closed and
> converted to non-rail use? I could have sworn I
> purchased my ticket at the train station in the
> past decade or so. Also, was the CNJ ROW through
> here 4 tracks or 2 tracks. The "West Trenton" line
> diverged at Somerville didn't it (or Bound Brook)?
> Wherever the line diverged, that's where I believe
> the line went from four tracks to two tracks if
> one were heading westbound. >
>
> I have lived in the vicinity 18 years, and it was
> long gone in 1992. The ROW was 4 tracks to
> Raritan, then 2 beyond. Now it is all half that.
> Somerville's platforms were once island platforms
> as it was an express station. At most other
> stations, the platforms sit on the old locals
> track ROW. West Trenton diverged at Bound Brook.

The original station is a lovely stone, two story building on Veterans Boulevard. It's now a law firm. There's an eastbound station building, with a ticket agent for a few hours, that's still in place.

The bridges for the outer east and west tracks in Somerville are still in place, but bereft of track. The wye that once birthed the branch to Flemington is now part of the large parking facility.



>
> < Raritan Valley Line has slowly been getting its
> high level platforms - and even more substantial
> stations for that matter from the glory days of
> when the CNJ ran the line. This line needs to be
> extended to at least the Philipsburg area in the
> world's worst way - or even on to the Lehigh
> Valley - particularly Easton-Bethlehem-Allentown.
> It's a college town mecca out there, in addition
> to bedroom communities for businesses in Newark
> and NYC. And of course there's now the casino in
> Bethlehem. >

On a nearby post, I have pictures of the wood bridge over the CNJ at Borth Branch NJ. I was quite surprised that the 2.05pm westbound train didn't drop a single passenger the other day. Not one. There were about 40 cars in the free, small parking lot.

I suspect the every three hours service during the day discourages many riders, and encourages them to pay the rate at Raritan or Somerville. Service every hour, for example.
>
> Beyond Raritan, ridership is 400 each way per day.
> Beyond High Bridge, it is a very difficult
> business case to extend service. 94% of western
> I-78's traffic does not get east of Somerset
> County. Most NY commuters( the 6%) are on Trans
> Bridge buses from Clinton out to Bethlehem and are
> much faster than the train.