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Edison station

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Coordinates: 40°31′09″N 74°24′39″W / 40.5191°N 74.4108°W / 40.5191; -74.4108
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For the Metrorrey station, see Edison metro station.
Edison
Looking toward Metuchen from the Trenton-bound platform at Edison station in October 2019.
General information
Location360 Plainfield Avenue (CR 529)
Edison, New Jersey
United States
Coordinates40°31′09″N 74°24′39″W / 40.5191°N 74.4108°W / 40.5191; -74.4108
Owned byNew Jersey Transit
Line(s)Amtrak Northeast Corridor
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks4
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone13
History
RebuiltAugust 1997[1]–March 1, 2000[2]
ElectrifiedDecember 8, 1932[3]
Previous namesStelton (November 1870–October 29, 1956)[4][5]
Key dates
October 1958Station agency closed[6]
October 1963Station depot razed[7]
January 1, 2010Parking expansion opened[8]
Passengers
20123,120 (average weekday)[9]
Services
Preceding station NJ Transit Following station
New Brunswick
toward Trenton
 Northeast Corridor Line Metuchen
toward New York Penn Station
Former services
Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station
New Brunswick
toward Chicago
 Main Line Metuchen
toward New York or Exchange Place
New Brunswick
Terminus
 New Brunswick Line
Location
Map

Edison is a commuter railroad station in the Stelton section of Edison, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. Located at the intersection of Plainfield Avenue (CR 529) and Central Avenue, the station is served by New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line. Amtrak trains cross through but bypass the station. Edison station contains two side platforms, both high-level for handicap accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (accessible). The next station north, towards New York Penn Station is Metuchen while the next station south, with service towards Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick and Trenton Transit Center is New Brunswick.

History

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Original construction

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The station was originally constructed c. 1870 at Central Avenue and Plainfield Avenue and named Stelton after the Stelle family, early settlers in Piscatawaytown who arrived in the area in the 1660s.[10] The Pennsylvania Railroad renamed the station to Edison on October 29, 1956, as part of the changing of names in Edison to reflect the newly honored Thomas Alva Edison.[11] The railroad discontinued its ticket and freight agent at Edison in October 1958.[6] The railroad razed the brick station depot at Edison in October 1963.[7] The station depot had burned and was in poor shape prior to its demolition.[12]

Station rename (1954–1956)

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Suburban development leading to growth in the renamed Edison Township led to a drive to improve facilities for both the post office and Stelton station. Locals wanted a new central post office while Mayor James C. Forgione focused on the railroad station. Forgione stated that he wanted the Pennsylvania Railroad to improve service at the station, because the parking lots at the station reduced the pressure on stations at New Brunswick and Metuchen.[13] Forgione urged commuters to increase their use of the station in order to make the business case for the Pennsylvania Railroad to increase service.[14]

The township had room for increased suburban growth and felt that the railroad station would be the impetus for the development. By 1955, population had reached 30,000 and predictions showed 60,000 by 1975. Previous plans dating back to 1930 were to have a plaza built around the station, but fell apart when a local landowner felt the township was lowballing an offer for their property and the Great Depression eliminated any other further progress. Forgione felt that a new station was necessary for some of the new developments popping up nearby. The idea of a new parking lot for parking for 400 cars and a pedestrian bridge crossing the tracks would attract commuters from Highland Park and Piscataway as well. The township also pressured the Pennsylvania Railroad to start considering park and ride stations as the older stations struggle to provide parking.[15]

As part of this, Forgione wanted the station to be renamed Edison. At a meeting held on January 7, 1955, Forgione held a meeting at the Pines Manor to get both a post office and railroad station named Edison. The Edison Forum Club joined the drive that night, noting that they could get a new post office by renaming the Stelton post office Edison rather than building a new central one. They also signed on supporting the rename of the station.[16] The post office changed names to Edison on August 1, 1955.[17]

By November 1955, the Women of Edison, who was the organization that ran the campaign to change the name from Raritan Township to Edison Township, endorsed the idea of a station name change.[18] Charles and Johanna Wira, who ran the organization, worked with new Mayor Thomas J. Swales to open communication with the railroad.[19]

On April 23, 1956, the Forum Club, Women for Edison and township officials were notified by the railroad officials that the station name would be changed on September 30, pending approval of state government officials. The railroad noted that the agreement of the name change was done in sympathy of the local groups' demands.[20] The approval of the New Jersey Public Utilities Commission came in May. The railroad told Swales and Wira that the change would be concurrent with the change of timetables for the winter 1956–1957 season.[21]

Officials announced on October 27 that they would be holding ceremonies for the station rename on October 29. Swales, members of the civic organizations and members of the Township Planning Board and Zoning Commissions would be in attendance. As part of the station rename, the railroad switch tower in Metuchen, named "Edison Tower" was renamed "Lincoln".[22] The station rename ceremony occurred on October 29, with Swales posting the new station sign himself in front of Johanna Wira and Park Roeper, the official with the railroad who the township worked with.[23]

21st Century

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In early 2005 plans were announced to expand the station, notably with the addition of 800 parking spaces.[24] A new parking lot with 477 spaces opened on January 1, 2010.[8]

Edison Township formerly operated the Edison Light Shuttle, a commuter jitney connecting the station with nearby residential developments, but the service was discontinued in 2011 due to lack of funding.[25] However, in Mayor Sam Joshi's 2023 State of the Township address, he announced plans to restart the service.[26]

As part of the 2020 NJ Transit Capital Plan, the station will have its platforms extended to the west to accommodate 12-car trains, allowing all cars to platform at the station. The switch to the freight siding behind the Trenton-bound platform would be relocated to the east of the station to allow for the platform extension. The existing platform sections would be replaced. The project is estimated to cost $36 million.[27]

Station layout

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The station has two high-level side platforms. Most of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor services bypass the station via the inner tracks. Behind the Trenton-bound platform lies one freight track which merges with the Northeast Corridor just southwest of the station. The freight track eventually leads to several warehouses south of Brunswick Avenue.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Invitation for Bids: Construction of the Edison Rail Station Sealed Bid No. 97CC073". The Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. July 17, 1997. p. E13. Retrieved March 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Behrmann, Marcy (March 2, 2000). "Rail Station Gets New Face". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, New Jersey. p. C2. Retrieved March 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Electric Train Service Started by P.R.R. Today". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. December 8, 1932. pp. 1, 11. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Stelton Goes Into History as Edison Use Expands". The Central New Jersey Home News. October 30, 1956. p. 3. Retrieved October 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "State Items". The Monmouth Democrat. Freehold, New Jersey. November 10, 1870. p. 2. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b "PRR to Close Ticket Agency in Edison". The Central New Jersey Home News. October 3, 1958. p. 15. Retrieved October 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ a b "One Up, One Down". The Central Jersey Home News. October 26, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved October 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ a b "NJ Transit Cuts Ribbon on New Parking Lot at Edison Station" (Press release). New Jersey Transit. December 29, 2009. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  9. ^ "QUARTERLY RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANALYSIS" (PDF). New Jersey Transit. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  10. ^ Clayton, W. Woodford. History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men[permanent dead link], p. 849. Everts & Peck, 1882. Accessed December 11, 2017. "Stelton is a growing village on the line of Pennsylvania Railroad, about four miles from New Brunswick. It has a church, school-house, store, and post-office. Its appearance is neat; the dwellings in good taste; streets laid out with shade-trees; the town is surrounded by a farming community. There is a large number by the name of Stelle who were first settlers here in 1668, and from which the village received its name."
  11. ^ Staff. "Edison Township Adopts Fire Code"[permanent dead link], Edison Township and Fords Beacon, October 11, 1956. Accessed December 11, 2017. "The commissioners were notified that on October 29 at 1:30 o'clock there will be an official ceremony at the Stelton station of the Pennsylvania Railroad , when the station name will be formally changed to Edison."
  12. ^ "Renovation Slated for RR Station". The Central Jersey Home News. May 15, 1963. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ "Edison Township Seeks Central Post Office". The Courier-News. Plainfield, New Jersey. December 3, 1954. p. 9. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "Stelton Station Has Advantages". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. June 14, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ Rausch, Howard (July 30, 1955). "Edison Envisions Station Parking to Attract Commuters From Cities". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. p. 3. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ "Edison Proposed as Name of Post Office, Railroad Station". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. January 7, 1955. p. 9. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. ^ "How About Edison Station on Pennsy?". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. August 1, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ^ "Let the Girls Do It". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. November 20, 1955. p. 34. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. ^ "Central Post Office Coming Women for Edison Are Told". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. February 10, 1956. p. 5. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ^ "Stelton Station Will Be Renamed". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. April 24, 1956. p. April 24, 1956. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ "Stelton Station Name to Change". The Courier-News. Plainfield, New Jersey. May 14, 1956. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. ^ "Stelton Station to Become Edison at Ceremony Monday". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. October 28, 1956. p. 30. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ^ Petercsak, Francis S. (October 30, 1956). "A Mayor With a Design on Signs". The Courier-News. Plainfield, New Jersey. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  24. ^ Van Develde, Elaine (January 11, 2005). "Commuters concerned about station revamp". Edison/Metuchen Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  25. ^ Chernetz, Janna (April 8, 2011). "Hard Times Spell End for Edison Shuttle". Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
  26. ^ Mayor Joshi Delivers State of the Township Address, The Edison Illuminator (official township newsletter), Spring 2023
  27. ^ "NJ TRANSIT 2020 Capital Plan Appendix B Capital Plan Project Sheets Rail Infrastructure" (PDF). njtransit.com. NJ Transit. 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
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Media related to Edison (NJT station) at Wikimedia Commons

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