Train Travel from Newark to NYC
 

I am staying with my husband at the Hilton Newark Penn Station hotel. It is connected to the Newark Penn Train Station. How easy is it to get to NYC from this train station? Is it a safe train station?

Thanks!
Kimberley

Should be a piece of cake to get from Newark Penn Station to NY Penn Station via New Jersey Transit. I can't vouch for how safe it is, but given that the hotel and the station are "connected" I can't imagine why it would be unsafe if you, I assume, don't even have to go outside?

Go to www.njtransit.com and look at schedules and station info.

Andrew

I live in Manhattan and went to and from that train station in Newark last week, by myself at night. It's a nice train station and felt totally safe to me.

You should not have any problems just be aware of what is going on around you and have a great time.

You would just take the PATH train from there to the WTC. Here is the schedule http://tinyurl.com/rs2q8

Newark isn’t the nicest place, but I think the station is fine. I’ve never been there late at night but I imagine as it’s such a hub there’s plenty of activity.

The hotel and station are connected by an elevated pedestrian walkway, so its very easy to walk between the two. Trains run very frequently between NYC and Newark Penn Station, you can get to Penn Station New York in mid-town Manhattan via any NJ Transit train, trip takes about 20 minutes. (You can also take an Amtrak train, it just costs more.) NJ Transit trains to New York almost without exception depart from Track 1, but do check the board and listen for announcements as they can change this sometimes.

You can get to downtown Manhattan (WTC site and Wall Street area) via the PATH train which is a light rail system, journey time is about the same; you can also take the PATH to parts of lower Manhattan (like Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village area) and to 33rd Street in mid-town Manhattan. Website for PATH is at http://www.panynj.gov/path. Unless you are going to downtown Manhattan however, you have to change PATH trains to get to these other areas, so for you taking a NJ Transit train to Penn Station and then a subway (or taxi) would probably easier than using PATH. The entrance to PATH is also at Track 1 opposite the train tracks, it is a turnstile entrance.

There are ticket windows on the ground floor of the station where you can buy NJ Transit and Amtrak tickets. For PATH there are ticket machines up by the tracks, fare is $1.50 per ride.

Returning from New York Penn Station you can again take any train provided it stops at Newark Penn Station (virtually every train going to New Jersey, whether NJ Transit or Amtrak, makes its first stop there, but there is a line which goes via Newark Broad Street Station which you don't want). Trains run frequently until 11 pm, then about every 30 minutes on the half hour, except weekends and holidays when there is more frequent service.

The area around the hotel is fine during the day, not so great at night, but if you stay inside the station and use the walkway to the hotel I would not be too concerned. Good point above to just be aware of your surroundings when walking through the station. Have a black and white cookie at the bakery on the ground floor for me, I miss them!! The station, by the way, has a beautiful art deco waiting and ticket area.

Hi

My wife and I took the train from Newark to NYC a couple of years back. Just be aware that there are two Penn Stations :-) I have written more about this in my trip report http://gardkarlsen.com/new_york_city_trip_report.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

kimknight: Did you get a good deal at the Hilton in Newark? If you don't mind, could you post the price you paid? People on the board are always looking for reasonably priced hotels in good locations that are relatively easily accessible to Manhattan.