HOW MUCH NJT IS GOOD FOR ME (and my travel companion) . . . seeking recommendations for No. New Jersey

[al-in-chgo]

.

A thread on this site back in the spring discussed hotels/motels to stay at that are commutable distance into

midtown Manhattan.  I learned a lot but our upcoming trip to the Phila. area and then to Northern New Jersey puts

us under somewhat different constraints. 

We'll be flying, not driving, into the region and have no desire at all to rent a car. (In other words, we hope that

taking transit between cities will satisfy some of our desire to ride LOTS of commuter rail and light rail.) We've

already figured that to get from Phila. to Northern New Jersey, we'll take the River Line to Trenton and then connect

with something on the NEC toward Newark.  We'll have between two and three-and-a-half days to ride as much

transit as possible in or near Northern New Jersey. 

[We can, if we want to budget a good part of a day, head into Penna. Station in New York; I for one would like to take

the LIRR out to Syosset (Penn Station/Jamaica/Hicks-ville/ Syosset -- I believe it is called the Port Jefferson line). 

Otherwise, we've pretty well "done" the NYC subways and Metro-North to our satisfaction, so if we forego Syosset we

may never want to head into New York.  We do know there are many ways to get into Midtown Manhattan; possibly

the rail station on/near the EWR campus would be the easiest but we know there are others.]

Regardless, it would probably make the most sense to stay in the Newark area; we'll fly out of Newark/Liberty (code

"EWR") when it's time to go back home to Chicago.  Some questions, if I may: 

1) If we stay at a hotel on or near the EWR campus, do they have shuttles to the NEC station for the airport?  And

does that cost a lot extra? 
1a) Getting from the airport to downtown Newark looks fairly daunting with transfers and all (in fact, we'd have to go

thru Seacaucus Transfer for an all-rail route)!  Would it be prohibitively expensive just to hop a cab from the airport

hotels near the terminal to Newark/Broad Street Station or  Newark/Penn Station?  How much worse would the fare

be to the ex-EL electric terminal in Hoboken?  We don't want to get into the habit of casual cabbing but at times it's

probably going to be inevitable.  Also, remember that if we change hotels in the region, we'll have the whole

"permanent floating crap game" to contend with, as we'll have no car with a trunk for storage. 

2)  What are some favorite lines out of Newark?  I've read a very positive recommendation of Gladstone, NJ.  Others? 

(Of course, an excuse to ride either of the remaining two light-rail lines enroute is something we'd consider an

advantage, rather than a disadvantage.)

3)  Is there any particular line out of Hoboken (the old EL terminal) that would have obvious advantages for an

afternoon-turnaround (i.e., take the train out, maybe have lunch or supper, then return)?  And perhaps, the most

important--

4) Are there decent hotels in decent areas within or almost within walking distance to either of the Newark rail

stations?  I hope I'm not offending the Jerseyites reading this but please understand when I was in college,  Newark

was considered just about the ultimate in Northeastern U.S. urban decay, a reputation much like Detroit garnered

here in the Midwest. 

Your observations, opinions and advice are welcome--also for destinations I haven't mentioned here.  We just want to

do a lot of rail and as little bus as possible (ferryboat would be OK). 

If you prefer not to put a post on this thread, feel free to PM me.  If there are obvious economies to be had buying a

pass or multi-ride ticket, that would also be great to know.  I answer all such correspondence and keep what's in the

email to myself.  Thanks for hearing me out, al smalling ("al-in-chgo").

PS:  This is the least of my concerns but surfing the njtransit site, I simply cannot find any kind of gift shop or

museum store that sells NJT "branded" paraphernalia like T-shirts and mugs, or other memorabilia.  Does such a

place exist?  We don't care if it isn't official but a private enterpreneur who simply sells things with NJT themes.  

I've promised someone a T-shirt if at all possible.    -  a. s.  

 . . .  Soooo, short story long, what NJT lines do YOU like to ride??  - a. s.

 

     

[henry6]

Several friends and I travel from upstate (Binghamton, NY) to the NYC area to ride all the lines several times a year.  If you like riding trains, seeing what is operating today, how things are operating today, then you'll love what ever you choose.  Knowing the history of each line helps understand, too.  I grew up there and act as an escort and arrange trips (some have told me to start a "service" of planning trips, etc. for others).  In fact this weekend (9/29) we are going from Port Jervis to Bay Head and return, an all NJT day.  We have actually covered each and every NYC area line except the NJT Pascack Valley line (which we will be doing shortly after mid day and weekend service is inaugurated at the end of Oct.). We do it on heavy rail, light rail, bus, subway, boat, whatever gets the job done.  So, ask yourself if you want: trains and traffic, freight or passenger, photograhpy opportunities, historic lines, see how far you can go and return in one day, how many lines you can ride in one day, see the scenery, just ride, or whatever else comes to your mind. Then determine which line fills the bill and enjoy. But I wouldn't stay near EWR but rather at some further out spot but where there is frequent rail service and rates are a little cheaper.  By the way, the Gladstone Line has bustitution this weekend, so don't bother with that.  If you have any specific questions, try me, it might give you a better answer than above.

[al-in-chgo]

H, you really know your stuff!  And your sense of the priorities is right-on. 

I'm sending you a separate e-mail with some of our specifics subject to your comment, and with some questions I've been dying to ask -- and thank you for offering! 

In total, you're right:  "It's all good!"

Best,  a. s.

 

 

[paulsafety]

1) If you stay at a hotel on the EWR Campus you can use their van (assuming they have one) to get to any of the EWR terminals.  From any EWR terminal, take their monorail (http://www.airtrainnewark.com/airtrainnewark/) to the end of the line which is the EWR-NEC train station.  NJ Transit will take you to Newark Penn Station where you can transfer to several NJ Transit routes, PATH (access to Hoboken with free transfer), and the Newark Subway.  Of course, a higher price hotel with more amenities may even let you use their shuttle van to go directly to the Newark train station (it's about two miles away from the terminals)

1a)  Have no idea about cost of cab, but it is about two miles (straight line distance -- so plan on a ten minute ride at least).  There are hotels at or very near the Newark Penn Station (the Hilton is across the street).  These may have van service to and from the airport -- you'd have to check their sites or give them a call.  This avoids a lot of transfers to simply get to the train station and makes for a less noisy stay (EWR is an international airport and runs mostly 24 hours per day between freight and international passenger flights)

2) & 3) I have no favorites out of NWK (Penn Station), sorry -- maybe others can help you there.  Remember, some NJT lines do not operate thru NWK -- they go thru Newark Broad Street.

4)  As mentioned above, Hilton is across the street from NWK (Amtrak's code for Newark Penn).  A quick search on MSN/Google/Orbitz showed several other hotels within blocks of NWK.

4a) NJT used to operate a gift shop right in NWK, but it closed a couple years ago.  Your best bet would be online vendor as most hobby shops in the area are (to my limited knowledge) NOT located along a rail line (except possibly Hobby Heaven in Cranford, I suppose).  Maybe others know of such a store located near active rail access.

 Hope this helps some.

Paul F.

[JT22CW]

AFAICR, NJT still sells a Special Excursion ticket that allows one day of travel on all lines, no matter the direction or frequency.  Ask the ticket agent at Newark Penn about that one.

Cheapest public transit out of EWR to Newark Penn is a bus, sorry to report; route 62.  (If NJT had built the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link, like they had promised [the Penn Station-EWR segment was actually funded, but George Warrington did something with those earmarked funds, I don't recall what], then you would have been able to ride to Newark on an extension of the Newark City Subway.)

[MILW205]

You are spot on about taking Septa to Trenton, where you can catch NJT along the NEC to Newark.  It's much cheaper than taking Amtrak from Phila, and they usually have the trains coordinated so that you can step off the Septa train and walk down the platform to the waiting NJT train. 

You mention that you've already ridden much of M-N, but if you haven't already taken the M-N Hudson line to Poughkeepsie (departs out of GCT), I'd recommend it.  It has great scenery, especially this time of year when fall colors are showing.  There is a yard at Croton-Harmon, and last time I went by there they still had couple of FL9's stored. 

[al-in-chgo]

(part of a quote from above post): 

1a)  Have no idea about cost of cab, but it is about two miles (straight line distance -- so plan on a ten minute ride at least).  There are hotels at or very near the Newark Penn Station (the Hilton is across the street).  These may have van service to and from the airport -- you'd have to check their sites or give them a call.  This avoids a lot of transfers to simply get to the train station and makes for a less noisy stay (EWR is an international airport and runs mostly 24 hours per day between freight and international passenger flights)

************************************************

In Newark we stayed at a medium-sized hotel called the Robert Treat at Fifty Park Place, about midway between Penn Station (NWK) and the Broad Street station, which gets all the lines that originate at Hoboken.  The hotel was as reasonable as any out on "airport row," but I can't say that downtown Newark itself generates much of that desirable "big-city" feel.  Still, convenient to all NJT out of No. Jersey, PATH, Amtrak and the local trolley (not sure about subway).  - a. s.