Let's see. I'm flying on the dreaded Boeing 737 MAX from Los Angeles to Newark Liberty International Airport later this year. What could go wrong? If we make it safely to Newark alive, how do we catch the train from Newark to Penn Station in NYC (I do know not to get off at Penn Station Newark). One person said you had to take a bus to the Newark train that takes you to NYC. Another person told me they think you catch a train from the airport. Since my friends have thoroughly confused me, does someone have the real answer? I was also told that there are a couple of choices, and not to take the Amtrak train. So if you could tell me which train is correct and how often it leaves from where, it would be appreciated. With all these questions, I better stay sober on the flight, but I am flying on a 737 MAX, but then again we leave at 6 am.

Your friend may be trying to confuse you? There is a direct/non-stop train from EWR to Moynihan Train Hall which is across the street from the original/main Penn Station, and connected underground.

Not sure why they suggested not taking Amtrak??

To add what janis has said

from EWR terminals you take the air train to the Newark Airport train station
from there NJ transit trains run abt avery 30 min. Same tracks as Amtrak.

"Not sure why they suggested not taking Amtrak??"

I think they said the other train (which I guess is NJ transit train) is cheaper.

"from EWR terminals you take the air train to the Newark Airport train station
from there NJ transit trains run abt avery 30 min. Same tracks as Amtrak."

Thanks J62!

Just to add a bit more detail to janisj's and J62's responses:

NJ Transit is definitely cheaper. At EWR you would buy a ticket for NJ Transit to NY Penn Station for $17.00 - that is the AirTrain fee of $8.50 and the NJ Transit train to NY Penn fare of $8.50.
[The reduced fare for those 62+ would be $12.30 (AirTrain fee of $8.50 and NJ Transit train to NY Penn fare of $3.80)]. If you don't buy the "combination" ticket you'd have to pay the AiTrain fee separately at the AirTrain turnstiles.

Also note that during certain times of the day there can be at least 3 NJ Transit trains per hour from the Newark Airport Liberty International rail station to NY Penn Station.

I want to clarify something: the train station in NYC is NY Penn. The Moynihan Train Hall is across the street from NY Penn and that is where AmTrak passengers would check in/buy tickets/board trains. Moynihan and NY Penn are connected by a passageway under 8th Avenue on the West 33rd St side. There is an escalator going down to a lower mezzanine and then you go to the left, around the big support pillars, down a ramp, past the turnstiles for the A
subway train and up the ramp on the other side which leaves you in NY Penn Station on the Long Island Railroad level. If you were on the platform you could walk toward the 7th Avenue end and use stairs/escalators there which would also put you in NY Penn itself.

There are no NJ Transit trains between 1 AM (approx) and 5 AM each day.

Amtrak does not have as many trains (roughly 1 per hour during the day, overnight it can be as much as 3 to 4 hours between trains) at the Newark Airport train station to to NY Penn. Also looking at a schedule of AmTrak fares I saw that the fare can range dramatically on Coach tickets from $10 and UP to $55 and UP depending on the time of day and the train (and don't forget the $8.50 AirTrain fee).

Have a good flight - in advance.

Honestly I wouldn't take Amtrak. Nothing wrong with them but it just costs more and trains don't run as often as NJ transit. You can buy NJ transit tickets through their app, at the airport terminal before the airtrain and also at the station. You just need the ticket at the station to scan and the ticket faces up not down to open the gate. NJ transit also usually is a double decker and if you have large luggage, sit where the handicap sections are so you aren't going up or down stairs. I get off at EWR and never have seen those car sections super crowded unless its Christmas time.

Use an Uber, much easier

Much easier - perhaps. But that ease comes at a price.

I did a bit of 'rummaging' on Google and saw that the price of an Uber from EWR to the NY Penn Station area can range from $60 and upward (a couple of postings had a total of $100 for that trip). It all depends on the day of week, time of day, the type of vehicle. Then there are the "extras": the Uber booking fee, there is a $2.50 access fee that the airport charges services like Uber, there is at least 1 toll on the highway as you head toward NYC, then there is the toll for either the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel $12.50 and then the Congestion pricing fee (it's a toll) when the vehicle enters Manhattan, at least $9.00 and of course, the tip - all of which gets added to the charge to the rider.

Traffic on I-95 (the highway that would be used northward toward Manhattan) can be at a snails pace at certain times of the day (and not always during rush hour).

Makes the NJ Transit railroad option to NY Penn seem more reasonable.

There are multiple options to get to NYC. As stated before, Airtrain from the terminals to the Newark Liberty train station and take the New Jersey Transit train to NY Penn Station. Moynihan is across the street from Penn Station.

The Newark Liberty Express bus to New York Port Authority bus terminal. The bus is the most direct route to New York City since it stops at 3 different locations: Port Authority, Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal.

The cheapest option is also the longest and the most time consuming and can be taken at all hours of the day including 1 am to 5 pm but the travel time will run around 1 1/2 to 2 hours each way. It involves take the NJ Transit public bus (62) to Newark Penn Station and then taking the NJ Path train to either downtown Manhattan or midtown.

The easiest way to travel from 1 am to 5 am is take a taxi, Uber or ride share.