Can anyone tell me how to do this?
Ive taken Amtrack before to NY but dont want to spend the $90. Ive heard its cheaper to
either drive or take the regional rail to Trenton & then take another train into NY Penn Station.

I went on NJ Transits website briefly, but it looked like it only gets you as far as Newark?

If we drive to Trenton, whats the parking situation?

thanks in advance...

I had problems with the regular website, then used the "ADA"/Bobby-approved link:

http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tr_ada_schedules1.jsp

And found (as I was 100% sure of) trains from Trenton to NY Penn (using the N.E. Corridor line). I don't know what the parking situation is. You can take a SEPTA rail from Philadelphia to Trenton too.

You can take the SEPTA train from 30th Street Station in Philly to Trenton. Switch to the NJ Transit Train on the Northeast Corridor Line.

Some of those trains will go direct to Midtown. Others will require you to switch trains to another Midtown direct at Newark Penn Station. Just check the schedule at this link for point to point travel.

http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tr_schedules.shtml#

there is parking in trenton

WE have done this many times. We used to park at Trenton, but last time drove up to the next station which is Hamilton. It's MUCH nicer than Trenton. It's only $3 a day to park at Hamilton. There is no ticket counter, just machines to get your ticket. Train goes to Penn Station.

Take SEPTA Regional rail R7 from Center City Philadelphia to last stop Trenton. There are multiple stops in Center City where you can board the train (Market East, Suburban, 30th St Station). The cost is $7 1-way, but if you buy a return ticket, the cost is $13.50.

Once you get to Trenton, you'll need to catch the NJT train to NY Penn station. The NJT train is $10.45 1-way, or ~$15 off-peak r/t. The SEPTA train usually arrives 10 mins before the NJT departs, but sometimes if the SEPTA train runs late, you have less time. The biggest problem is buying your NJT ticket. You can buy it ahead of time in Philadelphia, but ONLY at the 30th St station where there are NJT ticket machines which you can buy the Trenton-NY Penn leg. However, if you board at other Philadelphia stations, they don't sell the NJT tickets. Once you get to Trenton, there are ticket machines on the platform, but usu there's a line for it. You'd have to get your ticket from the machine within the 10mins you have, which sometimes isn't quite enough. If you buy your ticket on the NJT train, you'll be charged a $5 surcharge.

I've done this trip many many times... The whole trip takes about 2.5hrs, vs 1.5 hrs on Amtrak.

Thank you all so much for your extremely helpful responses!

I did find the schedules, and that was the one concern I had - the only 10 minutes to switch trains & buy tickets in Trenton.

Now I will try to buy the NJT ticket at 30th street in advance. thanks yk!

If I buy a NJT ticket in advance, & the Septa train is late & I miss the train to NY, can I use the ticket on the next train?

yes nj transit tickets are not vaild for a certain train just any train going to NYC

Message: There is another option... NJ transit has a new "riverline" that goes from Camden to Trenton for $1.10. It runs much more frequently than Septa. (Can leave more time to get tickets in Trenton)
The stations have free parking.

www.riverline.com

I'll probably be trying this out this weekend in fact.

the river line is great
our town has it

Usually if the SEPTA train is just a little late, the NJT train will wait for it. As others have said, the tickets are good for any trains, I think valid for 60 days from day of purchase.