Arthur Kill
Richmond Valley is the only SIR station as of 2017 (and the replacement of Nassau and Atlantic with Arthur Kill) with a boarding restriction for trains in both directions. Passengers must be in the first 3 cars to get on and off trains at this station, the platforms were never fully extended. The station has two side platforms for the two track line, located at grade-level surrounded by marshland. The station did receive an initial renovation in the 1980s and a further small renovation in 2018, that included the installation of artwork. The station has two shorter than normal side platforms for the 2-track line. These platforms each begin under the bridge of Richmond Valley Road, with a staircase down to each platform towards their eastern ends.
At the opposite western ends of the platforms a staircase leads up from each platform to a pedestrian bridge across the tracks. Along each platform are entrances via a little alley in both directions (and what I think could have been the original roadway of Richmond Valley Road before the road was grade-separated). This entrance is just north of Amboy Road, with the roadway in the other direction meandering its way up to Richmond Valley Road. A fun fact about this entrance is just down Richmond Valley Road is the first Sonic Drive-In restaurant in New York City.
For waiting passengers, each platform has two simple canopy structures with orange painted support beams and glass block windscreens behind them. These canopies are by both platform entrances. The platform railings are of a more modern silver variety and the station had a tactile warning strip (a rarity on the SIR) when I visited in 2008, additional renovation work in 2018 has resulted in an Arts For Transit installation being installed on each platform.
Photos 1-8: June 20, 2008; 9: November 28, 2023
