NYC Airport Connection to Amtrak
Jan 20th, 2002, 05:15 AM
#1
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NYC Airport Connection to Amtrak
We are a British family planning our vacation to Saratoga Springs. We will arrive by air in New York and would like to take the Hudson Valley train to Saratoga Springs. Is there an easy connection/transfer from any of the airports?
Thanks - Joe & Helen
Thanks - Joe & Helen
Jan 20th, 2002, 05:48 AM
#2
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Airport to Train...
There is a train that runs along the East Side of the Hudson River. Two trains share this track. Commuter trains run from Grand Central Station in Manhattan (42nd Street and Park Ave)to Poughkepsie. Long distance trains run from Penn Station (34th Street and 7th Ave). You are probably interested in the Long Distance trains.
If you are coming from Britain you will probably arrive into Kennedy (JFK) or Newark (EWR) Airports. We also have Laguardia Airport which handles only domestic flights.
So...to answer your question...
From Kennedy Airport take the free Port Authority bus to the Howard Beach subway station. That will take you directly into Penn Station. The stop is named (34th Street). The time on the subway is about 45 minutes and during the morning rush hour this can be crowded. This whole ride will only cost you $1.50 each. A taxi will probably take a longer time and cost about $50.00. Traffic at almost anytime of the day can be nasty.
From Newark take one of the many busses from that airport to downtown Newark. There is a Penn Station also in Newark, which is the center of the downtown. In it you will find a PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) train to 33rd street. Stay in the head car. When you arrive at 33rd street you will be at 6th Ave. Walk west one block and you will be at Penn Station Manhattan. The Path fare is $1.50. The bus to the PATH is probably $1.00. Total time here should be about an hour. Again if you choose to take a taxi traffic will be a nighmare. It might take 30 minutes just to go through the tunnel into Manhattan from New Jersey.
If you happen to arrive at Laguardia airport there is a city bus (Q31 ?) that will take you to the 74th street station. From there you can take the 'E' train straight into Penn Station Manhattan. This will cost you $3.00 / person and will take about 1hour and 15 minutes.
Enjoy......
There is a train that runs along the East Side of the Hudson River. Two trains share this track. Commuter trains run from Grand Central Station in Manhattan (42nd Street and Park Ave)to Poughkepsie. Long distance trains run from Penn Station (34th Street and 7th Ave). You are probably interested in the Long Distance trains.
If you are coming from Britain you will probably arrive into Kennedy (JFK) or Newark (EWR) Airports. We also have Laguardia Airport which handles only domestic flights.
So...to answer your question...
From Kennedy Airport take the free Port Authority bus to the Howard Beach subway station. That will take you directly into Penn Station. The stop is named (34th Street). The time on the subway is about 45 minutes and during the morning rush hour this can be crowded. This whole ride will only cost you $1.50 each. A taxi will probably take a longer time and cost about $50.00. Traffic at almost anytime of the day can be nasty.
From Newark take one of the many busses from that airport to downtown Newark. There is a Penn Station also in Newark, which is the center of the downtown. In it you will find a PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) train to 33rd street. Stay in the head car. When you arrive at 33rd street you will be at 6th Ave. Walk west one block and you will be at Penn Station Manhattan. The Path fare is $1.50. The bus to the PATH is probably $1.00. Total time here should be about an hour. Again if you choose to take a taxi traffic will be a nighmare. It might take 30 minutes just to go through the tunnel into Manhattan from New Jersey.
If you happen to arrive at Laguardia airport there is a city bus (Q31 ?) that will take you to the 74th street station. From there you can take the 'E' train straight into Penn Station Manhattan. This will cost you $3.00 / person and will take about 1hour and 15 minutes.
Enjoy......
Jan 20th, 2002, 07:01 AM
#3
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Assuming that you have a family size of four or more, possibly a child or two of young age or have a reasonable number of bags, conventional public buses and subways are inconvenient and awkward at best. From Newark you may take a private shuttle bus for $11 per person or the new train system. For $11.25 per person you'll take the free aiport monorail to a transfer station and then take NJ transit into Manhattan, arriving at Penn Station (34th and 7th Ave). I believe there is also an Amtrak option. In any event, this should be quite convenient, as the Amtrak trains to and from NYC terminate in Penn Station. If you do have a family of four it will be close to the same price to take a cab from Newark to NYC - perhaps a few $$ more. I'm less familiar with JFK but consider Newark to be the more efficient and convenient of the two airports. If you plan to stay for a night or two in NYC there is a hotel adjacent to Penn Station that is good for the money - it's the Hotel New Yorker (now part of the Ramada chain). It's quite large and caters to many tour groups but was clean and well run when I stayed there a few years ago. There is also the Hotel Pennsylvania, on the 7th Ave side of the station, but I've heard less than favorable things about that property. I'll be at the NY'er hotel tomorrow for a conference - will try top see a room and report back here. Have fun in Saratoga - one of my favorite small tpowns and I'll be there in late June for the Jazz Festival. be sure to try the mineral baths and also check out the fantastic swimming pool in the state park that adjoins SPAC.
Jan 20th, 2002, 08:15 AM
#4
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Not to make this more confusing for you, but I have to agree that the bus to the subway to Penn Station would be a headache, especially if you have lots of bags.
If you come into JFK or Newark, I'd suggest taking one of the private bus services that go to Penn Station New York. At Newark, I like to take the Olympia Trails bus. It will take you right to Penn Station New York and costs something like $11 each. I'm sure there is a similar service from JFK -- used to be called the Carey bus lines. This will prevent you from having to lug your bags from one means of transportation to another.
Once in Penn Station, simply follow the signs to Amtrak. From there, you can get the train to Saratoga. Enjoy your trip -- Saratoga is great! Be sure to sit on the left-hand side of the train to Saratoga and you will a great view of the Hudson River all the way up.
If you come into JFK or Newark, I'd suggest taking one of the private bus services that go to Penn Station New York. At Newark, I like to take the Olympia Trails bus. It will take you right to Penn Station New York and costs something like $11 each. I'm sure there is a similar service from JFK -- used to be called the Carey bus lines. This will prevent you from having to lug your bags from one means of transportation to another.
Once in Penn Station, simply follow the signs to Amtrak. From there, you can get the train to Saratoga. Enjoy your trip -- Saratoga is great! Be sure to sit on the left-hand side of the train to Saratoga and you will a great view of the Hudson River all the way up.
Jan 20th, 2002, 06:13 PM
#6
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There is a new train service. EWR to Penn Station, operated by NJ Transit. Trip takes 20 minutes (faster by far than a bus or a taxi.. Cost is $11.15 a person.
The child would porbably ride free. This is the way to go since the train will take you right into Penn Station.
The child would porbably ride free. This is the way to go since the train will take you right into Penn Station.
Jan 21st, 2002, 10:25 AM
#8
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The train from Newark to Penn Station is very new, and definitely it is the best way to get to Manhattan.
But you absolutely should drive up. If you do not rent a car at Newark, you will only delay having to rent in Saratoga. (the car is mandatory, you would never see anything in Saratoga if you didn't) The cost of the car including gas will be half the price of a single train ticket. And that's for *both* ways, there and back. Besides, the scenery on the way is quite nice if you take the Route 9 way. The rental company can suggest routes.
But you absolutely should drive up. If you do not rent a car at Newark, you will only delay having to rent in Saratoga. (the car is mandatory, you would never see anything in Saratoga if you didn't) The cost of the car including gas will be half the price of a single train ticket. And that's for *both* ways, there and back. Besides, the scenery on the way is quite nice if you take the Route 9 way. The rental company can suggest routes.
