Hawthorne station (NJ Transit)
| Company type | NJ Transit commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | October 19, 1848 |
| Headquarters | Hawthorne , United States |
Area served | Passaic County, New Jersey |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Hawthorne functions as an operational commuter railroad stop managed by New Jersey Transit within the borough of Hawthorne, located in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. It holds the distinction of being the northernmost NJ Transit station in Passaic County on the Main Line. Train routes extend northward to Waldwick, Suffern, and Port Jervis, while southbound services lead to Hoboken Terminal, where passengers can transfer to New York City via the Port Authority Trans-Hudson system and ferry connections. Access to the station is exclusively from Washington Place, featuring two low-level side platforms linked by a level crossing, which means it does not meet the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
History
Rail operations commenced in what was then Manchester Township on October 19, 1848, with the inauguration of the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad. This line connected the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad from Paterson through Bergen County to the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad at Suffern. Initially, the station was named Van Blarcoms and situated near the Wagaraw Road (County Route 504) crossing. Subsequently, it was renamed Norwood, but due to duplication with another Norwood located in Bergen County, the United States Postal Service requested a name change.
In July 1948, plans were announced to replace the existing Hawthorne station built in 1863 following the removal of the Wagaraw Road grade crossing. The proposed new brick structure measured , with a budget allocation of $30,000 (1948 USD). Construction began on September 14, 1949, and by January 19, 1950, Erie Railroad operations had transitioned into the newly completed depot. On June 9, 1966, Erie Railroad obtained authorization to discontinue the station agent role at Hawthorne.
Station layout and services
Hawthorne station’s platforms are not positioned adjacent to any through street:
- The northbound platform is situated near Vincent Avenue but does not have direct access from this street; parking is available off Washington Street and Washington Avenue.
- The southbound platform’s primary entrance is accessible via the parking area, with an additional access point from Washington Place, a cul-de-sac.
- Ticket vending machines are installed at the main entrance to the southbound platform.
- A pedestrian level crossing equipped with railway signals connects both platforms through the parking lot for safe pedestrian movement.
Hawthorne has been identified as one of two potential terminal points for the inactive Passaic-Bergen Rail Line light rail initiative, which would establish a connection between Hawthorne and Paterson, Elmwood Park, and Hackensack.
The station comprises two tracks served by low-level side platforms.