Victim's Family Wants Deadly Ramsey Train Station Shut Down

RAMSEY, NJ — The family of a man who was struck and killed by a train at the Main Street train station wants the station shut down — something state officials said is not necessary.

Jamie Ryan is the uncle of Tommy Ryan, who was struck and killed by a train at the station in June. He was killed after he walked under the gate and crossed over the tracks to get to the other side. Another man committed suicide near the station in September, officials said.

There have been several fatalities "at or near the crossing" in recent years. The station was built in 1868, Ryan said.

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"Something has to change," Ryan said. "This is the second deadliest and the oldest running train station in New Jersey."

Gregory Spiritosanto, an engineer with the State Department of Transportation, outlined possible changes and suggestions in a Nov. 21 memo that came out of a meeting with a team of people from the department, the borough, the Federal Railroad Administration, New Jersey Transit, and engineers from Bergen County.

The team found that sidewalks at and near the crossing should be made larger, more and signs lights installed and signs posted, and a warning device that would sound at the pedestrian crossing.

Ryan said trains on the Main/Bergen-Port Jervis lines travel through the crossing and through downtown Ramsey excessively fast — at 70 miles per hour, sometimes. He met with state Sen, Gerard Cardinale, members of Governor Christie's staff and Robert Bartoni, deputy commission of the state Department of Transportation, but the station remains open.

Ryan wants the New Jersey Transit-run station shut down so people can use the $27 million station located nearby that opened in 2004.

The fact that people are allowed to park and store their antique vehicles at the new station and that the borough does not charge commuters that much to park at the old station discourages people from using the newer one, Ryan claimed.

"Get the residents to park in a safe place," Ryan said.

Thomas Ryan's father has filed an intent to sue the borough for $100 million following his son's death, Dillon said.

Death Was 'Preventable'
Ramsey officials said changes have been made at the station. A walkway that ran parallel to the train tracks and a crosswalk were removed. A flashing "no turn" sign was installed directly across from a parking lot near the station.

"It is unfortunate what happened, but Mr. Ryan's death was preventable. I see no reason to close the station," said Mayor Deirdre Dillon. "A lot of people walk to that train station and a lot of people park there and nothing happens. It is heavily used."

Dillon said she commuted from the station from 1994 to 2007 and "never once did I ever go under a downed gate."

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A photo of the train tracks near the Main Street station. — Courtesy of Jamie Ryan