Travelling Newark NJ to Philly

Subject: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: nickp
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 05:31 AM

During the summer my wife and I will be travelling from the UK to Philadelphia. Because we really want to use the convenience of our local airport we will be flying into Newark NJ and accept that there's a premium involved with the tickets rather than using a London airport.

Sadly it's close to the beginning of the school vacation and so the prices are really high. Although we're watching the online booking agencies most days, most of the cheaper bookings seem to involve flying half way round the world between Newark and PHL for what is a relatively short distance. Doh!!!

We're considering the option of using Amtrak (do I hear cries of 'aaargh!) for that part of the journey. We have a possible offer of a car-ride down when we arrive so may only need to make the return trip by train.

The Amtrak web site shows a reasonable number of trains through the day between Newark International and Philly at a passable price and length of trip. What it doesn't say is whether that involves changing train anywhere. I'm thinking mainly of the logistics of luggage. So it's the ease of that part of it that I'm interested, you know the sort of thing, getting to & from trains with luggage, whether we'll have to change, etc.

Its over 25 years since I travelled Amtrak and I guess that - like the UK rail system - it hasn't improved. But needs must when the devil drives - as they say. Of course, we may yet get a sensible flight connection at a sensible price but I won't hold my breath.

Usual 'Cat comments about the state of Amtrak etc. are acceptable but hopefully someone will have made that trip recently and is still alive...

Nick

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: Susan of DT
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 07:24 AM

New Jersey Transit is cheaper than Amtrack and uses the same tracks. You should not need to change trains. NJ Transit There seems to be a train station at the airport (I've never looked for it) and trains seem to run very frequently.
Virgin Atlantic sometimes has cheap air fares

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 12:55 PM

I flew to Israel earlier this year from the DC area. My plane to Israel left from the Newark Airport. (Return was to JFK). My departure involved taking the AMTRAK train to the Newark Airport, since I too could not just buy a one-way ticket from DC to Newark NJ for under a few hundred dollars! (train cost about $60).

The DC - Newark train went through Philadelphia's 30th St Station. No changing would be involved. (make sure you buy train tickets to the Newark Airport and not to Newark itself - I almost bought tickets with the wrong destination.)

At the train station at the Newark Airport you get on to something called the Air Train to get to your air departure terminal. The Air train is free if you have continuning-on tickets to a flight. Air Train is elevated rail cars that run every 10 minutes or so and have big wide doors and elevators. No difficulty to negotiate with a BIG heavy wheeled suitcase. The Air Train circulates all around the airport, including the train station.

I don't know about NJ Transit at all.

AMTRAK prices aren't static the way they used to be. Like the airlines, AMTRAK prices now change according to how far out you are buying the ticket. More if it's next week, much less if it's months away.

AMTRAK trains can be difficult to negotiate if you have a big suitcase and the train is crowded. Some of the cars have big spaces to park bulky bags and some don't.

--Linda

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: nickp
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 01:38 PM

Thank you to you both, all helpful information. The NJT looks as if it might involve a change but not complicated. Neither option seems too expensive by comparison.

Hopefully we won't have too much luggage - we're used to that and often come back with more clothes than we started with thanks to Thrift stores! - but will have instrument (mandolin) and camera and I'd certainly want to keep those in sight.

Again thanks, Nick

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 05:53 PM

There is a shuttle bus from Newark Airport to Newark Penn Station. At Newark Penn Station, you have your choice between the trains and the bus. Both have terminals there.
If you have the time: While in Newark Penn Station, you can put your gear in a locker and walk a few blocks into the Ironbound section of Newark for some of the best Spanish, Portugese and Basque food in the world. You want to walk Southeast, NOT West.

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 07:02 PM

Is renting a car not an option for you? Who would not relish the opportunity of driving the New Jersey Turnpike? I had to go from Danbury CT to Newark Airport and it turned out the cheapest/easiest way was to rent a car in Danbury and drop it off at the airport, which was cool because that was where I was going!

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 08:20 PM

You are in luck. I have spent the last 6 weeks in the Newark, JFK, and La Guardia airports. I am a Union Organizer, and am helping the Transportation Safety Officers organize a Union. As a result, I am intimately familiar with these systems. When you arrive in the Newark terminal, grab your luggage and then make your way to the Airtrain (not to be confused with the airline known as AirTran). There is an Airtrain station in each of the three terminals in Newark Liberty International Airport. There is no charge for using the Airtrain, it is a monorail that connects all airport parking, terminals, and Newark Penn Station. Just take the escalator up to the Airtrain, and take the one that goes toward P4. Stay on the train after it drops its passengers at P4, and it will take you out to Newark Penn Station. At Newark Penn Station, you will exit the train, take an escalator up to the station and take either Amtrak or NJ Transit. I find NJT cheaper and easier, but either option works.

Should you decide to rent a car and drive, it is extremely easy. There is a New Jersey Turnpike exit out of the airport and the Philly area is just a straight one hour and 45 minutes south on the Turnpike. Easy peasy.

If you want any more info, just drop me a PM. I know these routes well.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: nickp
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 04:15 AM

Thanks folks, its looking less of a struggle all the time. I should have clarified the car part of it. I normally would have hired but have been offered the use of a car while in Philly so once I'm there life is easy! And I guess I could try and get one to 'return' but hiring is very much cheaper if I do it over here using one of the online companies and I don't think I'd be able to work out that kind of option.
Nick

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 07:18 AM

So, you are going to come from the UK and drive a car in a big, Eastern city. Have you ever driven on the right side of the road before?

If not, I suggest you try something we have done. Buy some toy cars, sketch out a few layouts from maps of real towns, and practice driving the toy cars on the right side of the road. Be sure to go in and out of driveways and parking lots. Make right turns and left turne. Get onto and off of an expressway.

This may sound silly, but it has proved genuinely helpful when making the big switch. Somehow, feeling the toy cars move correctly helps program your whole body.

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: Susan of DT
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 07:32 AM

And the "roundabouts" (not many of them) go the "wrong" way.
When we are driving in the UK (Dick drives and I navigate), the hardest part to remember is when pulling out of a gas (petrol) station or driveway onto a road is which lane to turn into. From a road to a road is not as bad.

If you are looking for music and mudcatters, several of us are in the vicinity. When are you coming?

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: GUEST,kerryguy7
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:01 AM

It's been a while since I've taken AMTRACK but I do know that the service between Newark and Philly is one of the most reliable and most used service they offer.
Piece of cake, as they say!
I would suggest that you take the train as some other folks here have suggested.
Penn Station (the location where you will board the AMTRACK train to Philly) is indeed easily accessible from Newark Airport and, like I said before, the train from Newark to Philly is an easy journey!
I'm an old New Jersey guy, although I live in Michigan now.
All of this talk about Newark is making me homesick! :)

Best of luck and enjoy the trip!

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:51 AM

We're looking forward to seeing you! You WILL remember that one option is the one not discussed here: I come meet your plane at Newark! If it turns out that this is not possible, Amtrak is the best bet-- take it not to Philly but one stop further-- Wilmington DE which is the closest stop to Chester County PA, where we reside.

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: nickp
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:00 AM

Thank you for your concern about the driving and I do understand the differences. This'll be about my 16th trip and I've had a car each time covering some pretty big distances although avoided most BIG towns (except Atlanta which was ... er... interesting but manageable). But for anyone reading this who has yet to try the 'other side' on either side of the Atlantic they make sense.

As for when and why, it'll be near the end of July as a stepping stone to Clifftop for the fiddle festival. There'll be a couple of days in the area SW of Philly before moving on to WVa but as we're staying with people I don't know how much 'free' time we'll have.

Nick

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: nickp
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:41 AM

Pete, we must have cross posted!! We were trying to keep our options open realising that it is still a goodly distance for you to drive - and also would still need to make our way back afterwards while you go off east and north.

Great to hear from you and we certainly haven't forgotten your kind offer and as long as it is still conventient at the time we'll gratefully accept it. It seems so far in the future although I'm sure it will pass swiftly. Looking very hard at flight prices at the moment but the more it goes on the more we have a suspicion that they won't drop any more so we might as well get the flight booked very soon. At least that gives us set times to work with.

Best wishes to the gang, more later. Nick

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: GUEST,M.Ted
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 12:26 PM

Take Amtrak--NJT is a commuter line, which means that it is slower, and makes all the local stops. Also, no place to stow your baggage. Also, plastic bench seats--You'd get off at Trenton, go up the steps, buy a SEPTA ticket, then walk down the steps to the SEPTA train(which connects with NJT, meaning that it waits). Then you'd have to change SEPTA trains again at 30th Street for Wilmington, but this train doesn't wait--No food or water on any of the commuter trains--also, commuter trains run less often on weekends and holidays, and there are no reservations--

If you use AAA, you can get a fair discount on the Amtrak tickets--but you have to buy them at least three days in advance.

Subject: RE: Travelling Newark NJ to Philly
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:48 PM

Listen to GUEST M. Ted. He knows what he's speaking about. Only if you are on a severely limited budget should you even consider taking NJ Transit rather than Amtrak. With what you are already spending on your trip to America, the few extra dollars for Amtrak amount to very little. Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor, as the right of way between Washington and Boston is called, run frequently and are usually on time. They are generally pretty clean and comfortable. You can pay substantially extra for the high speed trains, called the Acela or the Metroliner, but Newark to Philadelphia is such a short distance that the additional expense is not worthwhile.