Amtrak Guest Rewards - EWR/Newark Airport station- why so expensive?

I've been flying into and out of Newark airport a few times lately; is Amtrak even trying to do any business there?

The 25-35 minute ride to NY Penn Station is about $7/$8 off-peak on NJ Transit but about $26-$40 on Amtrak. Why the difference? NJ Transit's new cars are pretty nice, too, so the ride isn't much worse on the commuter train.

I also checked longer trips to EWR- some trips from WAS to EWR, for example, are more expensive than longer trips from WAS to NYP.

And on my last trip leaving EWR, when I was buying a train ticket, a rail station attendant told me, "You cannot get an Amtrak ticket- you have to buy a NJ Transit one."

What gives?

I also checked longer trips to EWR- some trips from WAS to EWR, for example, are more expensive than longer trips from WAS to NYP.
Doesn't the fare to EWR also include the $5 or so for the AirTrain?

Doesn't the fare to EWR also include the $5 or so for the AirTrain?

$5.50 if you're remaining within the State of NJ, $9.50 if going to NYP.

I've been flying into and out of Newark airport a few times lately; is Amtrak even trying to do any business there?

The 25-35 minute ride to NY Penn Station is about $7/$8 off-peak on NJ Transit but about $26-$40 on Amtrak. Why the difference? NJ Transit's new cars are pretty nice, too, so the ride isn't much worse on the commuter train.

I also checked longer trips to EWR- some trips from WAS to EWR, for example, are more expensive than longer trips from WAS to NYP.

And on my last trip leaving EWR, when I was buying a train ticket, a rail station attendant told me, "You cannot get an Amtrak ticket- you have to buy a NJ Transit one."

What gives?

I'm not sure that Amtrak's really trying to do all that much business there, beyond the Continental code share. I think that they really want NJT to be handling the local business.

And off peak tickets are not valid to EWR, so one way to NYP is $15, unless you know the tricks.

Regarding things being more expensive, don't forget that the Port Authority slaps on a hefty fee to ride the monorail.

Finally I believe that there is an Amtrak Quik-Trak Machine there, but otherwise you must have your tickets before you get to the station. The "guard" is suppose to allow anyone with an Amtrak ticket to/from EWR through the gates. If they fail to do so, report them.

I'm not sure that Amtrak's really trying to do all that much business there, beyond the Continental code share. I think that they really want NJT to be handling the local business.

Every seat sold to someone EWR-NYP takes away an available seat from someone who wants to buy WAS-NYP, WAS-BOS, or other more expensive, more profitable city pairs. The high EWR-NYP fare does two things: it discourages people from buying it in the first place, but if someone does, and that someone's going to take that seat away from someone willing to pay up to $212 for it on a sold-out train, Amtrak might as well make some money on it.

Indeed NJ Transit fares have gone up, as correctly pointed out- I do see them on the NJ Transit website as now $15 to EWR, plus I'd assume the $5.50 Airtrain fee.

That's pretty steep for just a trip to the airport, but Amtrak is even steeper- rough!

The high fare points to the fact that Amtrak, a long distance commuter rail service wants to be just that. It wants to get people who may not live near a large airport to and from EWR, or to handle irregular ops where people get stuck and are close to where they want to end up. They don't propose to be a shorter distance commuter rail line nor do they propose being a link to EWR for those of us in the area. Let them do what they are meant to do. There are a few decent alternatives for us locals that work at a mostly nominal level. Can you imagine yourself needing a trip from NYP to WAS and finding plenty of tickets from EWR south but nothing from NYP because of the airport traffic?

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

Indeed NJ Transit fares have gone up, as correctly pointed out- I do see them on the NJ Transit website as now $15 to EWR, plus I'd assume the $5.50 Airtrain fee.



That's pretty steep for just a trip to the airport, but Amtrak is even steeper- rough!

The $15.00 single-ticket NJ Transit fare between EWR and NYP includes the airport access (AirTrain) fee. However, the same trip can be had for $11.00 if one utilizes the ticketing strategies outlined in the FF Wiki at http://www.flyerguide.com

I also checked longer trips to EWR- some trips from WAS to EWR, for example, are more expensive than longer trips from WAS to NYP.



On the other hand, I just purchased a ticket from LNC-EWR for December (saving lots of money flying out of EWR instead of PHL). The ticket from LNC-EWR was $50 o/w, which was exactly the same as a ticket from PHL (30th Street) to EWR. So the LNC-PHL leg was essentially free. :D

You can add me to the list of people that appreciate the Amtrak service at EWR. I've used the CO code-share twice this year in addition to the aforementioned ticket.

I assume that an Amtrak ticket to EWR does not include the $5.50 monorail fee, which must be bought separately?

On weekends, when NJ Transit trains run less frequently, if Amtrak could have its computer systems sell last-minute tickets from EWR to NYP and nearby stations for prices not much higher than NJ Transit charges, it could probably make some easy money- it'd beat waiting for up to 45 minutes or so for NJ Transit.

I assume that an Amtrak ticket to EWR does not include the $5.50 monorail fee, which must be bought separately?Given that this thread's had a whopping 9 replies so far, I can understand how you missed seeing that question's been asked, and, answered! :p

:)

Every seat sold to someone EWR-NYP takes away an available seat from someone who wants to buy WAS-NYP, WAS-BOS, or other more expensive, more profitable city pairs. The high EWR-NYP fare does two things: it discourages people from buying it in the first place, but if someone does, and that someone's going to take that seat away from someone willing to pay up to $212 for it on a sold-out train, Amtrak might as well make some money on it.

Similar to people who try to buy Stamford-New Haven, New Rochelle to Stamford etc. instead of riding Metro North

I assume that an Amtrak ticket to EWR does not include the $5.50 monorail fee, which must be bought separately?


The "guard" is suppose to allow anyone with an Amtrak ticket to/from EWR through the gates. If they fail to do so, report them.

Oops, I overlooked the answer that you had given- my mistake! Thanks for the terrific and most helpful responses.

I once did try to buy an Amtrak ticket- I forget if I used the Quick-Trak and forget if it was there then- but the guard just told me to take NJ Transit.

I did NYP-EWR today, to take my mother to the airport, and (1) the EWR rail station is not designed for people who just want to go to the train station and not use the monorail- there is no way of buying a ticket to EWR without paying the $15 that includes the monorail but (2) the airport clearly seems to contemplate people using the way outlined in that terrific airport transportation site on Wikipedia, if it has ticket machines that sell only the $5.50 monorail ticket (but not train tickets)- the airport must assume that people are buying tickets to other stations and just getting off early to save cash, since everyone who buys a ticket to EWR already has the monorail ticket.

I saw 2 Amtrak trains pull up as I was waiting for NJ Transit and didn't see anyone get off or on. Too bad.

I did NYP-EWR today, to take my mother to the airport, and (1) the EWR rail station is not designed for people who just want to go to the train station and not use the monorail- there is no way of buying a ticket to EWR without paying the $15 that includes the monorail but (2) the airport clearly seems to contemplate people using the way outlined in that terrific airport transportation site on Wikipedia, if it has ticket machines that sell only the $5.50 monorail ticket (but not train tickets)- the airport must assume that people are buying tickets to other stations and just getting off early to save cash, since everyone who buys a ticket to EWR already has the monorail ticket.

I saw 2 Amtrak trains pull up as I was waiting for NJ Transit and didn't see anyone get off or on. Too bad.
I think people who have certain kinds of passes (monthly, maybe)? use the EWR rail station on occasion but need to buy the $5.50 monorail ticket.

(1) The EWR rail station is not designed for people who just want to go to the train station and not use the monorail - there is no way of buying a ticket to EWR without paying the $15 that includes the monorail.I'm confused.

If you just want to go the the EWR train station but not use the monorail, you just buy a ticket to the next station (like Elizabeth), no?

I also have a question about the EWR station. I am coming back from an international flight and will either take Amtrak or New Jersey transit from EWR to NYP to catch the LSL back to Chicago.

I know New Jersey transit is cheaper, but I would rather pay a little extra and also be able to earn AGR points. If I purchase a ticket from EWR to NYP it is $23 vs. $15 for New Jersey transit. However, if I purchase a ticket from for Metropark, NJ (MET) to NYP, the fare is $18. That makes the discrepancy between New Jersey transit and Amtrak very negligible when the AGR points are added in. Is there any reason why I would not be able to use my ticket with an MET origin and board at EWR?

If I purchase a ticket from EWR to NYP it is $23 vs. $15 for New Jersey transit. However, if I purchase a ticket from for Metropark, NJ (MET) to NYP, the fare is $18. That makes the discrepancy between New Jersey transit and Amtrak very negligible when the AGR points are added in. Is there any reason why I would not be able to use my ticket with an MET origin and board at EWR?You'll be able to use your MET-origin ticket at the EWR rail station.

But you'll need to pay an additional $5 or so for the 15-minute ride from the airport terminals to the EWR rail station.

I'm confused.

If you just want to go the the EWR train station but not use the monorail, you just buy a ticket to the next station (like Elizabeth), no?
I think his point was that Amtrak/NJT are in effect condoning using this loophole (buying tickets for different destinations to save money) by having monorail TVMs at the EWR station.

That's not the case--there are other legimitate, intended-by-Amtrak/NJT uses for the monorail TVMs, such as giving monthly passholders access to the airport.

I think his point was that Amtrak/NJT are in effect condoning using this loophole (buying tickets for different destinations to save money) by having monorail TVMs at the EWR station.


Exactly- I didn't realize that as pointed out above, there are monthly pass holders to EWR who would have to buy separate monorail tickets.

I still think that Amtrak should also offer relatively inexpensive (slightly higher than NJ Transit) EWR-NYP tickets perhaps only at the Quick-Trak ticket machines at EWR (not reserveable in advance) at prices not much higher than NJ Transit; that way, a lot more people would use Amtrak (since NJ Transit trains at least on Sundays aren't too frequent), and Amtrak wouldn't lose a longer-distance ticket, since the "cheap" EWR-NYP tickets couldn't be bought in advance.

I still think that Amtrak should also offer relatively inexpensive (slightly higher than NJ Transit) EWR-NYP tickets perhaps only at the Quick-Trak ticket machines at EWR (not reserveable in advance) at prices not much higher than NJ Transit; that way, a lot more people would use Amtrak (since NJ Transit trains at least on Sundays aren't too frequent), and Amtrak wouldn't lose a longer-distance ticket, since the "cheap" EWR-NYP tickets couldn't be bought in advance.

Great idea.

While they're at it, Amtrak and NJT should also make 1+1=2, not 2.5 (http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/NYC_Airports_to_Manhattan_Transportation_FAQ#Is_th ere_a_way_to_save_a_few_dollars.3F). Unfortunately, I think some combination of greed, bureaucratic inefficiency, and just plain stupidity will preclude anything decent from actually happening. :rolleyes:

You'll be able to use your MET-origin ticket at the EWR rail station.

But you'll need to pay an additional $5 or so for the 15-minute ride from the airport terminals to the EWR rail station.


OK. If I opt for New Jersey transit instead--I assume I would still have to pay the $5 to ride the monorail or would it e included?

OK. If I opt for New Jersey transit instead--I assume I would still have to pay the $5 to ride the monorail or would it e included?The fee for the AirTrain is included in any NJ Transit ticket to EWR (the NJT ticket gets you through the turnstile and onto the AirTrain).

You'll be able to use your MET-origin ticket at the EWR rail station.

But you'll need to pay an additional $5 or so for the 15-minute ride from the airport terminals to the EWR rail station.

Correct. If the Amtrak ticket says EWR, then the security officer at the gate will allow you through the turnstiles when you show that ticket. The fee for the monorail is included in that ticket's purchase price, which is why it costs more than the Metropark ticket.

Without an EWR Amtrak ticket, you'll need to buy the $5.50 NJT ticket to get through the turnstiles to reach the trains.

Correct. If the Amtrak ticket says EWR, then the security officer at the gate will allow you through the turnstiles when you show that ticket. The fee for the monorail is included in that ticket's purchase price, which is why it costs more than the Metropark ticket.

Without an EWR Amtrak ticket, you'll need to buy the $5.50 NJT ticket to get through the turnstiles to reach the trains.

Thanks Alan!

So I'd be better off buying the correct ticket for $23 since the $5.50 monorail is included than to buy an $18 ticket for MET.

Thanks Alan!

So I'd be better off buying the correct ticket for $23 since the $5.50 monorail is included than to buy an $18 ticket for MET.

Correct for several reasons, in additional to the actual purchase price. Namely:

It saves time versus having to purchase the monorail ticket once you arrive at the EWR station. You just swish through the turnstiles and are one your way. Could mean the difference between catching an AirTrain instead of waiting for the next one.

And, if using the Amtrak Mastercard, you get more double-points for the $23 ticket than you would for the $18 + $5.50 option.