Train from Newark Airport to NYC

[egmurphy]

Next month we have a 2 night stopover in New York as part of a trip. We're actually flying into and out of Newark Airport. I understand that there is train service between the airport and downtown New York. Being a good railfan, I want to take it and drag the family along with me.

Has anyone here ever used this service? What I'm looking for is an idea of how long I should allow (after collecting the bags) from the terminal into the city. I'd also appreciate any tips or notes that I should be aware of regarding how the system operates. Can I assume that the coaches have a place to stash your bags, other than overhead racks?

Thanks

Ed

[eastside]

If you're landing at Newark and want to go to NYC via rail, you'll want the Air Train service:
AirTrain 1
AirTrain 2
Map and status

[Anonymous]

I generally use it every time I go up to NYC--have pretty much abandoned the other airports for EWR because of the extreme convenience. You can get a ticket from a machine in the terminal for NJT. Follow the signs. They're upstairs from baggage claim and they take all major credit cards. Then follow the signs to the monorail. Take it to the EWR rail station. Pick up the next NJT train into Manhattan. All stop at Newark rail and some stop at Secaucus Jct. also for transfer to Jersey points on the old EL.

The trip in to NYP takes about 20-25 minutes. When you get there, you've got a ton of options--cabs outside, subway, etc.

If you're on Continental, you can check in at NYP on the way out of town.

A word of advice. If you catch NJT at rush hour, be prepared to stand (which I have found can be in the vestibule--everybody else does). Also, if you go in on ATK, be prepared to pay about 75% more because the tickets are higher.

Go to the NJT web site for more info:

http://www.njtransit.com/

Hope this helps, and have a great trip!

BTW--a subway day pass is $7. Worth it's weight in tokens. And DO NOT MISS the Grand Central restoration. Go around lunchtime and try any of a number of good food places generally reasonably priced. The Oyster Bar is VERY expensive, though. While you're there check out the Transit Store upstairs and the Campbell Apartment:

http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/

[gardendance]

The airport trains don't actually go to New York. They go from the airport to a station on Amtrak's northeast corridor. In Newark's case the station is the next one south of Newark Penn station.
I've ridden the toy trains at both Newark Airport and JFK for railfan trips. I haven't used them to catch planes. They do have generous luggage racks, but once you change to NJ Transit or Amtrak you'rein the land of normal railroading that we all fondly remember.
Both trains run very frequently, something like 5 minutes or less daytime, 15 minutes or so late at night WITHIN the airport, with somewhat less frequent service from the airport to the connections with the rest of the nation's railroads.

drephpe#65292; did you know about JFK's train? It has 2 routes that go out of the airport
1. to the A train subway Howard Beach station
2. to the Jamaica station for the Long Island Railroad and the E and J subway.

depending on where you're headed in New York (lower Manhatten vs midtown) the A train might be a quicker ride, but the Long Island Railroad is pretty quick for getting from Jamaica to New York Penn Station.

[egmurphy]

Thanks for the information, links, and tips.

QUOTE: If you're on Continental, you can check in at NYP on the way out of town.

Actually we are flying Continental. When you say 'check in', can you check in your bags there too? Or do you still have to schlep them on the train?

Grand Central Station is definitely on my list of places to see. It was always one of my favorite places in New York.

Thanks

Ed

[timz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

QUOTE: If you're on Continental, you can check in at NYP on the way out of town.

Actually we are flying Continental. When you say 'check in', can you check in your bags there too?

Sounds unlikely, doesn't it-- how would the bags get to the airport?

For that matter,what about those empty counters at the JFK-Airtrain station at Jamaica, and at the EWR rail station? Did they really expect passengers to be able to check bags there? If so, how were the bags supposed to get to the airport?

(EWR was built before 11 Sept 2001, though it opened after, so I guess they actually did plan to check bags at the rail station-- but how?)