Ridgewood station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ridgewood
Ridgewood station in October 2014 from the Hoboken-bound platform.
Coordinates	40°58′51″N 74°07′14″W / 40.9807°N 74.1205°W / 40.9807; -74.1205
Owned by	New Jersey Transit
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	3
Connections	NJT Bus 163, 164, 175, 722, 746, 752 (all connections two blocks away at Van Neste Square; several of those routes have connections at the station on Godwin Avenue)
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	2315 (Erie Railroad)
Fare zone	9
History
Opened	October 19, 1848
Rebuilt	1859 August 1915–November 28, 1916 February 2009–September 2011
Previous names	Godwinville (1848–1866)
Traffic
Passengers (2012)	1,433 (average weekday)
Services
Preceding station NJ Transit Following station Ho-Ho-Kus toward Suffern Main Line Glen Rock–Main Line toward Hoboken Bergen County Line Glen Rock–Boro Hall toward Hoboken
Former services Preceding station Erie Railroad Following station Ho-Ho-Kus toward Chicago Main Line Glen Rock toward Jersey City Terminus Bergen County Railroad Glen Rock-Bergen Line toward Jersey City
Ridgewood Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The former Ridgewood station prior to reconstruction.
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey Show map of Bergen County, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Garber Square, Ridgewood, New Jersey
Area	5.5 acres (2.2 ha)
Built	1916
Architect	Drinker, W.W.; Howard, Frank A.
Architectural style	Mission/Spanish Revival
MPS	Operating Passenger Railroad Stations TR
NRHP reference No.	84002582
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 22, 1984

Welcome to Ridgewood Station, a busy train stop in Ridgewood, New Jersey. This station is run by NJ Transit. It's a key spot where people can switch between different train lines.

Ridgewood Station has two main platforms. One is a side platform, and the other is an island platform. These platforms serve trains on the Main Line and the Bergen County Line.

Discovering Ridgewood Station's Past

Train #75 stops at Ridgewood bound for Port Jervis before construction of the high-level platforms began

Early Days of Train Travel

Trains first started stopping in the area, then called Godwinville, on October 19, 1848. This was when the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad opened. This new railroad connected Paterson to Suffern.

A new station building was put up in 1856, and another in 1859. Later, in August 1915, the Erie Railroad took over. They began building two fancy new station buildings in Ridgewood. These beautiful new stations opened on November 28, 1916.

A Historic Landmark

The Erie Railroad built the Ridgewood station in 1916. It was designed as an elevated station, meaning it was built above the street level. This helped trains and cars avoid crossing paths.

Today, Ridgewood station is a very important historical site. It has been listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. This means it's recognized for its special history and architecture.

Long-Distance Journeys from Ridgewood

For many years, until the 1960s, Ridgewood station was a hub for long-distance travel. Passengers could catch trains to faraway cities like Binghamton. From there, they could connect to trains heading to Chicago or Buffalo.

Famous trains like the Erie Limited and the Lake Cities passed through Ridgewood. These trains took passengers all the way to Chicago. The Atlantic Express brought passengers from the west to Ridgewood.

After the Erie Railroad merged with the Lackawanna Railroad, long-distance service slowly ended. The last long-distance trains stopped running through Ridgewood in the mid-1960s.

Modern Upgrades for Everyone

Between 2009 and 2011, Ridgewood station got a big makeover. The main goal was to make the station accessible for everyone. This was done to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

As part of these upgrades, high-level platforms were added. These platforms are at the same height as the train doors, making it easier to get on and off. The old side platform on Track 1 was removed. In its place, an island platform was built to serve both Tracks 1 and 3.

Ramps were installed on both platforms. Elevators were also added to help passengers get from the platforms down to the underpass on Franklin Avenue. These changes made the station much more user-friendly.

How Ridgewood Station Works

Understanding the Platforms

Ridgewood station has three main areas for trains. There's one side platform for trains heading towards Hoboken. There's also an island platform for trains going north. Most of these platforms are high-level. There's also an old low-level platform that isn't used anymore.

To get between the platforms, you can use underpasses. These are walkways that go beneath the train tracks. One underpass also goes under a bridge on Franklin Avenue.