New Jersey Transit trains take passengers from Newark Airport to Penn Station in Manhattan (Chris McGinnis)
One New York City publication is calling it a “summer of Hell” for train commuters as emergency track repairs get underway this week at Penn Station in Manhattan, one of the nation’s busiest rail hubs.
The repair work started this week and is due to continue until September 1, causing some major schedule disruptions, cancellations and detours for rail travelers.
But how will this affect frequent fliers? The most frequent use of Penn Station by air travelers is to take trains to and from Newark Airport – and it looks like those individuals dodged a bullet.
The vast majority of the trains used by Newark Airport travelers to and from Penn Station in Manhattan (don’t get confused – the trains also stop at Penn Station in Newark) are operated by New Jersey Transit. The trains don’t run to the airport itself, but to the Newark Airport Station, with transfers to the terminals via the AirTrain.
Train schedules for Newark Airport’s station should be unaffected. (Image: New Jersey Transit)
The Newark Airport Station is a stop on New Jersey Transit’s Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line. And the rail company said on its website that “all Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains to PSNY (Penn Station New York) will operate on regular weekday schedules with minor time changes.”
Amtrak reports that while a few northeast Corridor regional trains between Washington D.C.-New York and Philadelphia-New York will be canceled, there will be no changes to the schedules for its high-speed Acela trains in the Northeast Corridor – the trains most often used by business travelers.
Image: New Jersey Transit
Some travelers also use Long Island Rail Road commuter trains from Penn Station to travel to Jamaica Station in Queens for a transfer to the JFK Airport AirTrain, which takes travelers to the JFK terminals. There could be minor schedule changes for the LIRR, but there are so many trains running between Penn Station and Jamaica Station that any difference should be negligible.
The New York Times has published a handy guide with several links to help readers find their way around the transportation troubles resulting from the Penn Station repairs.
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I live in NYC and I’ve heard it’s actually not the bad. Yes, schedules are a little different and they’re mostly on the Morris-Essex line. I think the news is making it sound worse than it is.
thanks, Denis! Good tips.
If I’m staying in Midtown (especially Flatron, Chelsea, NoMad – so many nice and refreshing properties have opened in the area over the last couple of years) I always take LIRR and find it very convenient. From Penn Station I either walk 5-10 min or take a short $5-10 Uber ride. Except for Penn Station itself (which is ugly disaster and shame for NYC) I find this means of transport satisfying and not worse than options in other large cities – like Paris, London or Hong Kong. The trains are fine (basic but normally clean enough – what else you would need from public transport), definitely better than subway, they go to Jamaica with 1-2 stops on the way, very quickly. Normally it’s 40-60 min from leaving the room to entering a terminal at JFK.
For stays near Times Square and up to Southern end of the Central Park Subway E is the best option, especially if you manage to take an express train.
Thanks, Chris! Now if we could only tine our flights to avoid MTA’s rush hours . . ..
Thanks, Hugo! Haven’t timed it versus usual transfer.
Was not familiar with the bus. Good tip.
Good advice, Don! I’ll use that next time I go to NYC and stay in Midtown.
I like to use the E from Manhattan to the JFK Airtrain station because
1) It travels express through much of Queens, not making every stop, and
2) Its Manhattan route from the WTC up to near Central Park puts you within easy walking distance of most top NYC hotels.
If you’re flying out of JFK, the A and E subway lines are great and cheaper (albeit longer) alternatives to LIRR. The A train will take you to the Howard Beach Station where you can connect to the AirTrain. Like the LIRR, the E train stops at Jamaica Station where you can connect to the AirTrain. There’s also a bus (which I’ve used before) that travels from midtown Manhattan to EWR. When I took it, it cost the same amount as the NJ train ($15 OW).
I used to teach Urban Studies and love to find and try various airport public transit links. Here’s a Newark one I used this June that is a bit different than the one described in Hugo’s post. >
Step One: New Jersey Transit bus 62 serves all Newark terminals. In T-A take the elevator down to the lowest parking level and walk out front. The bus shelter for NJT sits easily visible to the left.
Be sure to board the 62 one heading for Newark Penn Station.
Step Two: At Newark Penn follow the signs to PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) rapid transit.
All PATH trains from Newark head to its station at the World Trade Center. If staying at the Hyatt Jersey City it stops right in front of it at Exchange Place, the last stop before the WTC.
If going to Midtown get off at Journal Square Station and do a cross platform transfer to a PATH New York Penn Station train.
The latter offers intermediate stops in West Greenwich Village, 9th Street, 14th Street, and 23rd Street. These four have no elevators.
That’s it! I’ll let you look up schedules and fares. If not used to big cities you might be more comfortable with Hugo’s route.
Note that Uber offers shared ride rates at Newark.
I’m really skeptical. A recent Acela train I was taking to NYC Penn Station from Boston was delayed 30+ minutes before this mess. Alternate plan if you are coming from that direction and see that there is going to be a delay. Get off at Stamford, CT. Take a Metro North train to Grand Central Station. As far as Amtrak coming from the other direction see below via Newark Penn Station.
NJ Transit trains to/from Newark Airport are generally routed right through the area being repaired at Penn Station NYC. Delays seem inevitable. Here is an alternate but best if you are traveling light. Coming from Newark Airport get off at Newark Penn Station. (They use the same name to confuse you.) Get on the PATH train which takes you directly to Wall Street World Trade Center station. (If you are going to Wall St. area this is the best route regardless.) Or with a train change at Journal Square you can get to Manhattan with a few stops from Christopher street in the Village up to 33rd St. & 6th Ave. Reverse the procedure coming from Manhattan.