Pennsylvania Station, Newark

Newark Penn Station is a crucial intermodal passenger hub located in Newark, New Jersey, and is one of the major transportation centers within the New York metropolitan area. It ranks as the seventh busiest rail station in the United States and the fourth busiest in the New York City region. The station finds its home at Raymond Plaza, nestled between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard.

Architecturally, Newark Penn Station is a masterpiece designed by the renowned firm McKim, Mead & White, known for their work on the original New York Penn Station. It showcases Art Deco and Neo-Classical design elements, featuring a main waiting room adorned with medallions that depict the evolution of transportation—from wagons and steamships to cars and airplanes, symbolizing the rise and decline of the railroad era. The station’s décor includes chandeliers embellished with Zodiac signs, adding to its historic ambiance.

The station was officially opened on March 23, 1935, with the first regular train service, a New York–Philadelphia Express, commencing the following day at 10:17 AM. It was constructed adjacent to and eventually replaced the original station, with the newer southeast half completed in 1937. Apart from the underground Newark Light Rail station, all tracks are elevated above street level.

Newark Penn Station was envisioned as a centerpiece in the Pennsylvania Railroad's network and a key transfer point to the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (now known as PATH), partially funded by the Pennsylvania Railroad for travel to lower Manhattan. During its prime, the Pennsylvania Railroad scheduled 232 weekday trains through Newark, with the majority connecting to or from New York Penn Station or Exchange Place in Jersey City.