Short Hills station
| Company type | Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Headquarters | Short Hills, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Short Hills, New Jersey |
| Owner | New Jersey Transit |
Short Hills serves as a New Jersey Transit rail stop located in Short Hills, New Jersey along the Morris & Essex Lines.
History
The origins of this station trace back to 1879 when Stewart Hartshorn, the developer behind the Short Hills community in Millburn, personally financed the initial station on the Morris and Essex Railroad route at a cost of $2,520. He took responsibility for its upkeep, including covering the wages of the station master, and arranged for two daily train halts from the M&E line, operated by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. That same year, a United States Post Office branch began operating within the station premises.
The existing station structure was erected in 1907 after demolishing Hartshorn’s original edifice. This period also marked the completion of the DL&W’s Lackawanna Terminal (present-day Hoboken Terminal).
Over time, the station has remained operational under several railroad companies such as the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, Conrail, and currently under New Jersey Transit management.
In 2002, a commemorative tree was planted by community members at the station to honor those local residents who used this stop on September 11, 2001 and never returned.
Millburn Township has undertaken various improvements including restroom upgrades to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards, maintenance of rain gutters and downspouts, as well as refinishing all wooden doors, windows, and benches.
Station layout and services
Positioned amid Hobart Avenue, Chatham Road, and Station Plaza—with Crescent Place and Short Hills Avenue terminating nearby—the station features a trestle that carries trains over Short Hills Avenue. This crossing forms a narrow intersection that can be hazardous.
Constructed in 1907 with two buildings flanking the double tracks, only the eastbound structure remains active for New Jersey Transit operations. This facility caters to trains bound for Hoboken and New York Penn Station, offering amenities such as a waiting room, community bulletin board, restroom facilities, a small newsstand, dining options, and a ticket office open during weekday mornings. The westbound building is currently occupied by the Millburn–Short Hills Historical Society.
In alignment with Stewart Hartshorn’s original vision, no construction has taken place on the land strips between the railroad right-of-way and Hobart Avenue (westbound side) or Chatham Road (eastbound side).
Permit parking is provided on the eastbound platform side and along nearby Chatham Avenue in accordance with local residential parking permits. Both platforms are low-level side platforms without handicap accessibility. Although New Jersey Transit does not offer local bus service at this station, Springfield Township operates a commuter jitney linking the Springfield Community Pool to this location.