Info Needed On Arriving From Newark Airport

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/8/11 at 4:10pm

I will be arriving next month from Newark Airport at 3:00 pm on a Friday. Normally my schedule has allowed me to get into the city much earlier. Does rush hour traffic to get into Manhattan start as early as 3:00? I am looking into taking the Air Train/train to Penn Station. I have only done this once but going from Manhattan to Newark. I know I bought my train ticket at Penn and then a seperate Air Train ticket to Newark Airport. When coming from the airport do you buy you ticket all the way to Penn Station? If not where do you buy your train ticket after the Air Train station? Thanks

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/8/11 at 9:27pm

Well, if you're checking bags expect to leave the airport sometime between 3:30-4pm. The train should be pretty fully since the Airport is towards the end of it's run (there are only two stations between EWR & Penn Station). If you get a double decker train don't go up or down the stairs. The lower level doesn't have luggage racks and the upper has really skinny ones. There is a section as that's the best place for people with luggage as soon as you board.

You buy your ticket to Penn Station before you get on the AirTrain because you need your NJT ticket to gain access to the AirTrain. It's not two different fares.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:43am

Follow the signs that lead you to the AirTrain and the first thing you'll see are the machines to buy your ticket. Remember that the train stops at NJ Penn Station and NY Penn Station - make sure you buy the right one :)

I usually arrive around that time and rarely find the NJ Transit train to be too busy at all.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/11/11 at 4:47pm

You can buy a train ticket either near the AirTrain entrance in the terminal or at the train station stop at the end of your AirTrain ride. You'll use that ticket both to get through the gate between the AirTrain station and the train station and on the train.

And blaxx is right -- trains going into the city aren't too crowded that time of day. I was just coming back from a trip yesterday at peak rush hour time and there was barely anyone on the train. From early afternoon to early evening, the train is absolutely your best bet over a cab or the shuttle to Port Authority, because tunnel/bridge traffic is a different story.