Newark Penn Station to Celebrate 80th Anniversary on Monday​

Friday, March 20, 2015Newark Penn Station will turn 80 this Monday, and New Jersey Transit is planning a celebration. The station, which is located in Downtown Newark, serves PATH trains, New Jersey Transit trains, the Newark Light Rail, Amtrak trains, and local buses. It is the busiest train station in New Jersey, with an average of over 27,000 (Commuter Rail) weekday New Jersey Transit train riders. Newark Penn Station was designed by McKim, Mead and White, and was dedicated on March 23, 1935. Rail service began the following day.A variety of activities will take place throughout the morning and afternoon. From 9:30am to 2:00pm, the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center, of Phillipsburg, will present a historical bus display in front of the station on Raymond Plaza West. Buses from the 1950s will be on display. In addition, there will be musical performances by Brian Miguel at 10:00am, Rachel Menconi at 11:20am, and Susyn Timko at 12:00pm. Plus, the Newark Arts High School Jazz Ensemble will perform at 1:00pm and 2:00pm.35-minute long tours of Newark Penn Station will be offered at 11:00am at 12:00pm, starting at the information booth. Participants will learn about the history of the station and the Pennsylvania Railroad, tour the concourses, see architectural design features, and learn about future projects. A question and answer session will follow, and a speaking program is scheduled for 1:30pm.Partners include the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Newark Museum, and the Ironbound Business Improvement District.