Train from Newark to Manhattan
 

Hi everyone

I have been to NYC many times, but always fly into/out of LGA and take a cab.

This time I found a better fare to EWR. Is taking the train from the airport difficult? I'm looking for details....where to catch it, how long will it take, etc.

I arrive at 12:30 on a Friday, and my flight home leaves at 1:00 on Monday.

Thank you!

The train from EWR to NYC is super-easy and the trip takes about half an hour.

You have to take the Air Train from EWR to the New Jersey Transit train station. From there take a NJT train (NOT Amtrak, which would cost a fortune) to NYC Penn Station. (There is also a Penn Station in Newark - do not confuse the two.)

From Penn Station you can take the subway or cab to your hotel - depending on location, amount of luggage and willingness to schlep.

EWR to Manhattan is easier than either LGA or JFK if you use the train. Easy, inexpensive.

Thank you for the replies.

Just so I understand, I have to change trains?

Yes, from Air Train (actually AT the airport) to NJ Transit regular commuter train.

Thank you!

The AirTrain circles is the train that connects the terminals, parking areas, and train station at Newark Airport. It has only one route with trains in either direction. Take the train in the direction of Newark Liberty Airport Station--this is the train station and the end of the AirTrain route, so no mystery about missing the stop.

From there, as others have mentioned, take a New Jersey Transit train to NEW YORK Penn Station. It will be the final stop on any train headed to NYC.

This brochure explains the connections possible.

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf/T...rainNewark.pdf

You'll find this train connection pretty easy. A lot of people prefer EWR over all the other airports because of the ease of transit into Manhattan, especially if you are going to a destination on the west side.

Just be aware that Penn Station is one of the worst places in all of Manhattan to catch a taxi, and wait times during busy periods are routinely over 30 minutes. I'd strongly recommend taking the subway or walking to your hotel if it's close by. Or walk a few blocks north (past Macy's) to catch a taxi. Just not on 8th Avenue. Cabs there are usually snatched up at the southwest corner of Penn Station before they enter the taxi line. The same thing happens at Macy's for taxis going down 7th Avenue. This advice holds particularly true if you are coming next Friday, right before New Year's, when the city will still be fairly busy. It's going to be less of an issue after that.

I did this exact trip last February and found it to be quite easy; previous responders have explained it very well--the most confusing part was making my way back to the right part of Penn Station to get the train back to EWR. Fortunately, trains run pretty frequently, although less so on weekends.

As musicfan states, Penn Station is very confusing, with terrible signage. For what it's worth, NJTransit trains leave from platforms located in the southern part of the station, closest to 31st Street. In fact, there's an entrance to the station at Seventh and 31st, directly into the NJTransit waiting area.

Navigating to this area from the subway can be difficult if you're not familiar with the station. In the LIRR (northern, nearest to 34th Street) part of the station, where the Seventh and Eighth Avenue subways are located, there are few if any signs related to NJTransit. Find a police officer (NYPD or Port Authority) and ask for directions. This map, more for LIRR riders than NJTransit, may help: http://mta.info/lirr/AlternateRoute/PennStation.htm

Thank you all again! Just the advice I was looking for. Like I said, I'm used to just walking out of LGA and getting in the taxi line. I didn't know if this was going to be confusing. But sounds like it's pretty easy.

If you go to the 8th Avenue exit at Penn there is a better chance of cab quickly.

The easiest and cheapest cab ride by far from an airport into Manhattan is from LGA.

We flew from United from EWR a few weeks ago and there are "better" palces places to eat than usual and for some reason TSA was a breeze, Monday afternoon about 3 PM. It is still more money by car service to EWR than to JFK for us from the East Village.

I don't think I saw this mentioned above but if so, sorry for the duplication. Remember to take your train ticket with you when going back to Newark airport. You will need it to exit the train in order to get to the monorail that takes you to the terminals. You will see when you arrive it lets you through the gates to the train tracks. People often assume they do not need the ticket but you do need it until you are on the train going to NYC and until you get to the monorail going back to the airport.

One other note about NJTransit departures from New York Penn Station. They are posted perhaps two hours or so in advance, but the actual departure platform isn't announced until about 10 minutes before departure time.

You'll want either a Northeast Corridor or a North Jersey Coast Line train, either of which services Newark Airport (third stop--Secaucus, Newark Penn Station, Newark Airport). The $12.50 fare includes the $5.50 AirTrain fare from NJTransit to the airport terminals. Buy your ticket before boarding; there's $5.00 surcharge on-board.

More help: http://bit.ly/cmz9ww

Another thing to note when boarding the train at NY Penn Station, people run and I mean run and crowd to the track when it's posted. I never understood why as I know you only have maybe a few mins to board the train but I find it nerve racking especially when I have had small rolling luggage. Maybe it has been the time of day when I have taken the train but to me it seems like it all the time.

We take NJ Transit to visit friends and people always race to the train. Most unfortunate and unpleasant.

Why do you "race to the train" at Penn? I've never seen or heard of people who didn't run when they post the train gate to miss their train? I just take a nice casual walk to the platform and get on the train. What am I missing here -- a huge desire to be first at the gate? I don't have that. It doesn't bother me in the least that others want to be first -- just like all kinds of lines anywhere.

Neo-you are just an elevated life form.

My experiences have been like a flash mob and it's like a wave. Giving the time of year the OP might also experience this so I just want her to be prepared. I just went through this in August which is why I don't get the mad rush. It happens when the track is just posted. Maybe it's where you wait for the train I don't know but I have been separated from my party with the rush. As I said it could also be the time of day as I always leave NY Penn in the afternoon. I have never left in the morning hrs.

It is all the reasons above:

For whatever reason they do not post the platform until 10 minutes before departure

You must guess which platform it may be beforehand and if you are wrong, you must head to the correct platform.

The trains are on a different level and the stairs and escalators are very narrow as are the platforms while the elevators are tiny.

The signs are horrible including no indication on the platform which is the right train and the smallest of signs which track is which. This includes a lack of station stops.

The new double decker trains do not have storage space above the seats for anything larger than a full paper bag.

All in all an awful experience.

Speaking of luggage. The double deckers aren't too bad as you can sit where the bikes and handicapped passengers sit but if a single level train, luggage can be a problem. The OP is only going for a few days so I would think is not taking something bigger than 19in bag. I have gotten stuck standing in between cars (signs say don't stand there) more than once because there is no room in the cars. Luggage wasn't a problem at that point but I have seen other people struggle. Again might not be a problem and I was going in the opposite direction from NYC.

It all sounds bad but people do it every day and it does help to be prepared.

In an otherwise mediocre movie called "Married to the mob" two hitmen kill someone on the Long Island Railroad, and as they leave the train one says to the other, "I can't beleive people do this every day."

LOL I liked that movie but it really is true. It can be an intimidating experience at first but I'm so used to it now and have learned a few tips along the way.

My brother couldn't find the "air train" after he landed. He kept asking where it was as I guess he didn't see the signs. The airport employees kept pointing him to Air Tran not Air Train. I thought that was funny.

"The OP is only going for a few days so I would think is not taking something bigger than 19in bag."

This made me laugh! I am a recovering heavy packer. But I am getting better. :-)

Thanks again for all the tips, they are very much appreciated.

<i>It is all the reasons above:

For whatever reason they do not post the platform until 10 minutes before departure

You must guess which platform it may be beforehand and if you are wrong, you must head to the correct platform.

The trains are on a different level and the stairs and escalators are very narrow as are the platforms while the elevators are tiny.

The signs are horrible including no indication on the platform which is the right train and the smallest of signs which track is which. This includes a lack of station stops.

The new double decker trains do not have storage space above the seats for anything larger than a full paper bag.

All in all an awful experience.</i>

Yup, Penn Station is New York's equivalent of Miami International Airport or Paris' Charles De Gaulle - an immensely busy transport hub that is also a bloody hovel. Without question.

The NJ Transit trains are also old, cramped and poorly laid out (single-deckers). But getting from EWR to the city is easiest, quickest and best done by rail because the cabs are hideously expensive and the traffic sucks.

Those are my favorite airports, MIA and CDG. We recently took a four hour bus ride to avoid flying through MIA.

Air Trains are the best travel means as they are comfortable and cost effective as well. You can watch some beautiful scenes out side while traveling in the air train. There are many traveling from Newark to Manhattan. Every one can enjoy the rides of it.

The poster above is VERY confused and has obviously never been to NYC.

The Air Train is the transit loop AT the airport that goes from terminal to terminal and then to the nearest NJ Transit station. There you must get on a regular commuter train (nothing to do with Air Train and not modern or attractive but fairly old and worn) and take that into Manhattan.

As for scenery - there is none - you're either at the airport, riding through a very small highway/industrial area or in a tunnel. NO scenery whatsoever.

The poster above must be confused with some other airport/city.

well, possibly the poster thinks looking at the stacks of shipping containers, or passing that big graffiti covered rock or maybe the grit of the inside of the tunnel are "beautiful scenes"?

But clearly the reference to Air Trains indicates the poster indeed does not know what he is talking about.

If you at Rohan's profile he has a car service in San Jose, CA.

Then why post an incorrect, ridiculous post - in broken English - about EWR?

Just delusional?

There have been plenty of delusional and useless postings in perfect English.

I know the question was about train service, but there is very good bus service from Newark Airport to midtown Manhattan. I have taken it several times and it found it to be easy, quick and the cost is $28 round trip. It drops off/picks up on the curb in front of the Airport terminals, all easy to find. From Manhattan it drops off/picks up across from Grand Central Station, and along 42nd Street going west. http://www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp

The poster in question posts gibberish on lots of threads - none are to be taken seriously. They are intended to make folks look at his profile and see his website. He is advertising w/o 'advertising'.

Meath1, thanks for the heads up about the bus. Looks like a great option.

The benefit of the bus is not having to haul luggage all over hell and gone.

The potential detriment is that you can easily run into heavy traffic getting from EWR into the city - and I believe the bus only lanes are available only during rush hours - not middle of the day. So OK if not bad traffic - but if bad weather, accident or construction can take a very long time.

And which is better partly depends on the location of your hotel.

The poster in question posts gibberish on lots of threads - none are to be taken seriously. They are intended to make folks look at his profile

Yes, I was just won over by unreadable nonsense by a cab driver a continent away.

"The benefit of the bus is not having to haul luggage all over hell and gone."

You carry your luggage to the bus and you carry your luggage from the bus. Or you carry your luggage to the train and you carry your luggage from the train. At either end you must deal with your luggage regardless of the transport. One is easier than the other?
What am I missing here?

With the train you are dealing with several transfers and trying to find escalators and/or elevators to haul luggage. The bus stops at street level in both airport and city - easier to deal with - esp if you are walking or taking a cab to the hotel at the end of the trip.