Station Review #104: Port Jervis (NJT/MNRR)


Port Jervis is a station on MNRR's/NJT's Port Jervis Line. The station is located at 100 Pike Street in Port Jervis, New York, along US-209. 

History

The old station

Port Jervis Station was created as part of the New York and Erie Railroad, on its Delaware branch. It was built in 1847, and served passengers going between Hoboken (NYC) and Binghamton. Despite this, some trips going as far west as Chicago stopped here. 

As train travel in the US declined, so too did Port Jervis station. Eventually, there was only a commuter service between the town itself and Hoboken, which would be operated by the Metro North Railroad. In 1974, MNRR chose to abandon the old station and build a new station nearby. 

The station the MNRR built, pictured in 2015

In 2021, this station was completely remodeled to become the station of today. This gave Port Jervis station a full high level platform, making it fully accessible. 

Tour

The entire station 

NJT Comet V trains at the Port Jervis yard 

Despite the line itself being owned by MNRR, much of the operation past Suffern of the Port Jervis line is operated by NJT to simplify operations. This means you can see both NJT and MNRR rolling stock along the line. There is a small yard at the station for this rolling stock. The Pascack Valley line is in a fairly similar situation. 

Maps

New York City Subway map. These pictures were taken before the new subway map was rolled out, hopefully they've been updated.
 
I understand the point of all of the MNRR stations having a map of the NYC subway system for people connecting to it in Manhattan or the Bronx, but this feels a little excessive. Port Jervis is actually closer in straight line distance to Lackawanna Transit Center in Scranton than it is to Grand Central station in NYC, or even Hoboken station. I doubt very many people would be using this map at Port Jervis station, especially nowadays. 

Manual switch
 
Approaching Port Jervis station, there are multiple switches, and all of them are manual switches.
 

A screen at the station, broken

A shelter

Leaners
 
MNRR put leaners in this station instead of benches. Leaners are horrible and are not only hostile architecture but are inaccessible for disabled people.

Notice for buses replacing weekend service for a few weeks

Notice for MNRR's west of Hudson lines

While an MNRR service, the Pascack Valley line and Port Jervis lines are both ran by NJT. Rather than running into Grand Central station in NYC like much of the rest of MNRR's services, they all run to Hoboken station. This is a notice explaining that to everyone. 

Recycling bins

The station from a distance
 
You can still see a few remnants of the old Port Jervis station platforms from before the station's remodeling. 

Bus Connections 

Port Jervis actually does have a transit connection! There is a dial-a-ride and a fixed route loop service, which only operates on Mondays and Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm. This is operated by the city of Port Jervis through Transit Orange. Transit Orange is essentially multiple smaller transit agencies operated under one framework, much like BCT in Bucks County, PA. The quality of transit along the network varies wildly depending on where in Orange county the rider is. Unfortunately, the Port Jervis DIAL-A-BUS LOOP is probably one of the worse ones out there.

Points of Interest Near Port Jervis

Port Jervis is essentially a tourist town. It's entire economy depends on tourism. In Port Jervis, one can go to:

• A plaza with the saddest save-a-lot I've ever seen
• A turntable for the Erie Railroad, with a rail museum nearby operated out of an old train car
• A bridge directly into Matamoras, PA (which among other things has a combined deli + barber shop)
• A lot of stores and restaurants 
• The D&H Canal trail
• Many other trails
• The PA/NJ/NY tri state point
• Multiple other museums

Despite all of this, Port Jervis is still not a very good place to live at all whatsoever. Its the quintessential example of a rust belt town, and a very isolated one at that. 

Statistics


Name: Port Jervis
Agency: MNRR (operated by NJT)
Line(s): Port Jervis
Locality: Port Jervis
City/Township: Port Jervis
County: Orange
State: New York
Ridership: 99 per average weekday, 181 per average weekend (2018)

Amenity Checklist


Accessibility: ✓
Bicycle parking: ✓
Clean: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage to either side: × (despite being single platformed, no easy way to get to the track from the opposite side of the platform without walking directly on the tracks)
Fare Payment Kiosks: n/a
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Lighting: ✓
Maps: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Seating: ✓
Station in Good Condition: ✓
Train Departure/Arrival Info: ✓
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 8.5/10
 

Station Directory

--------New Jersey--------
--------Hudson County--------
Hoboken
Secaucus Junction
--------Bergen County--------
Ridgewood
Ramsey-Route 17
--------New York--------
--------Rockland County--------
Suffern
Sloatsburg
--------Orange County--------
Tuxedo
Harriman
Salisbury Mills
Campbell Hall
Middletown/Town of Walkill
Otisville
Port Jervis



 

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