Figured some of you road warriors might know how to spend 2.5 hours after I get off the plane in Newark and the 94 Northeast Regional leaves.
No status, Priority Pass looks worthless, do have Amex Platinum and not adverse to buying a day pass.
TIA.
Arriving CO Express Jet and have the same time frame 4 days later returning
nerd
Nov 11, 11, 10:17 am
You could head into Manhattan for an hour or two (a NJ Transit train from the same EWR station would probably be the best bet that time of day - $15 $12.50) and then pick up train 94 in Penn Station instead of at EWR.
jbalmuth
Nov 11, 11, 10:53 am
Whether you wait at EWR or spend the time in Manhattan, it would be worth your while checking whether 94 is on schedule before making your way to the station. 94 begins its route in Virginia, and like most such trains has a fairly awful on-time record (69% over the past 12 months).
Why not just take an earlier train from NWK? The #62 bus will take you from your airline terminal at EWR to Newark Penn Station, which has more service than EWR Rail Station.
finite7777
Nov 11, 11, 6:06 pm
I have never been on the bus or train from Newark, if there is a better solution please spell it out...in minutiae, please. Going to/from Stamford, Ct.
Arriving EWR 2:30 PM 12/23, departure EWR 12/26 9pm.
Thanks.
nerd
Nov 11, 11, 6:11 pm
I have never been on the bus or train from Newark, if there is a better solution please spell it out...in minutiae, please. Going to/from Stamford, Ct.
Arriving EWR 2:30 PM 12/23, departure EWR 12/26 9pm.
Thanks.This page has all the minutiae you need:
Schedule here
http://mta.info/mnr/html/planning/schedules/schedules.htm
you want new haven lineGiven that OP is going only as far as Stamford, that might be the simplest, easiest-to-follow option.
On an express train, Grand Central to Stamford takes 45 minutes, and if you have to kill some time, there's plenty to see/do there while waiting.
NYCommuter
Nov 11, 11, 7:26 pm
I agree about Metro-North- the New Haven Line cars (M-8s) are brand-new, and it's a quick trip to Stamford.
Why not just take an earlier Amtrak train from Newark though?
darben
Nov 11, 11, 7:35 pm
Thanks Darben, if you ever need San Diego or Louisville advice please ask.
Edit-Whats Amtrak's refund policy on ticket made today?
If you have not picked up the ticket and you paid full fare or used the AAA, Senior, NARP or student discount then the fare is 100% REFUNDABLE
If you have printed ticket then the fare is exchangeable for voucher at 100% of value after you return the ticket to Amtrak or cancel the res and keep the ticket and give it to agent when you want to book another trip good for one year.
10% penalty if you want your money back after ticket printed.
If you got a discounted fare then it may or may not be refundable.
If you took discounted fare please tell us so further advice can be given
if everything is going well You should easily make the 3:15pm bus to new york and connect with the 4:12 express to Stamford arriving about 5:00 pm or the 4:15 arriving about 5:15
About 1 hour 15 minutes before the Amtrak train and about half the price
AlanB
Nov 12, 11, 7:46 am
I agree about Metro-North- the New Haven Line cars (M-8s) are brand-new, and it's a quick trip to Stamford.
I think that Metro North has maybe 3 or 4 trainsets worth of the new M8 cars on property, 34 cars according to the last count I saw. So the odds of hitting the new cars at this point are still very, very low. Two years from now your chances of landing in the new cars will be very good, but right now the odds favor getting a consist of the old M2 cars.
jbalmuth
Nov 12, 11, 4:57 pm
I have never been on the bus or train from Newark, if there is a better solution please spell it out...in minutiae, please. Going to/from Stamford, Ct.
Arriving EWR 2:30 PM 12/23, departure EWR 12/26 9pm.
Thanks.
Monday, Dec. 26 will be a holiday as far as public transportation is concerned (whether Metro-North, Amtrak, NJ Transit etc.), and I therefore strongly advise you to reconfirm any travel schedules for that day when you arrive the Friday before. For example, I would expect that the Stamford - Grand Central express trains to run only once an hour (in comparison to twice an hour during a normal weekday Monday afternoon).
LuvAirFrance
Nov 12, 11, 5:52 pm
Do all these transportation alternatives adhere to schedules. I'd hate to go running off to see some sites, have a snag, and have my train leave without me.
darben
Nov 12, 11, 6:29 pm
Do all these transportation alternatives adhere to schedules. I'd hate to go running off to see some sites, have a snag, and have my train leave without me.
Amtrak 94 is notorious for being late as it starts in Virginia
The bus I told about is scheduled every 15 minutes from EWR to NYC
The metro north about every 15 minutes to Stamford.
The bus is pay as you enter so get one the bus when you are ready
Metro north the ticket good for any train so it really doesn't matter if you miss a train just get the next one
bwb6df
Nov 13, 11, 11:28 am
Do all these transportation alternatives adhere to schedules. I'd hate to go running off to see some sites, have a snag, and have my train leave without me.
Hi, there,
Trains (both Amtrak and commuter) will not leave a station early; so if the schedule says it leaves at 12:30, it will NOT leave at 12:29 (though, at least for Amtrak, anything over 31 seconds past the minute rounds UP to the next minute; don't cut it so close where you're within a half minute, lol). That said, the train may always run late (other folks have pointed out that Amtrak train 94 is likely to be delayed since it originates in Virginia).
If you're taking Metro-North out of Grand Central Terminal, you should expect the train to depart right on time. It's very unlikely that it will leave late, since that is the originating station and there's been nothing to delay it yet.
Hope this helps!
LuvAirFrance
Nov 13, 11, 8:15 pm
Amtrak 94 is notorious for being late as it starts in Virginia
The bus I told about is scheduled every 15 minutes from EWR to NYC
The metro north about every 15 minutes to Stamford.
The bus is pay as you enter so get one the bus when you are ready
Metro north the ticket good for any train so it really doesn't matter if you miss a train just get the next one
I suppose in the eastern corridor, that might not be a big wait. Here in the Midwest, that would be a 24 hour wait. So that's why I'd not want to miss a train. Last trip I took, our train was out of the station no more than 5 minutes off the schedule. No wiggle room there.