Mid-Atlantic - EWR - PHL city Center

What is the current best way to travel from EWR to PHL city Center

From what i can tell i have 3-4 choices:
1. Shared Van/Bus - door-to-door
2. NJtransit->SEPTA->Taxi
3. Amtrak -> SEPTA -> Taxi
4. Amtrak -> Taxi

I will be arriving at 7am Friday morning (domestic flight) and departing from EWR at 3:55pm Sunday (international)

Can you clarify - are you looking to travel both ways?

SEPTA has two stations in Center City (as well as the 30th street station shared with Amtrak). One of them (Suburban or Market East) may be close enough to your destination to be useful.

Amtrak fares vary wildly depending on which specific train it is. Transfer to SEPTA to Center City is free with an Amtrak ticket ("An Amtrak ticket is accepted as a fare on Regional Rail trains between 30th Street Station and Market East Station.") May be easier just to take a cab the last mile though. You should make the 8:32 train from EWR. It takes about an hour.

NJT+Septa will take over two hours plus transfer/waiting time, but is cheaper and has more trains. If you can get the 7:36 NJT (seems unlikely if you have luggage) you can probably make the 8:53 SEPTA arriving at Market East at 9:53. If you miss either one you will probably get the next SEPTA train arriving 10:37.

If you have a lot of luggage may be easier to take a car service but I can't speak to these.

As usual "best" depends on sensitivity to price and to time, and on luggage.

I will be going both ways (EWR-> PHL on Friday and PHL->EWR on Sunday)

Will have some luggage, but it should be manageable to change trains.

Where the best place to find the NJtransit->SEPTA schedule

Google for r0070.pdf

What is the current best way to travel from EWR to PHL city Center

From what i can tell i have 3-4 choices:
1. Shared Van/Bus - door-to-door
2. NJtransit->SEPTA->Taxi
3. Amtrak -> SEPTA -> Taxi
4. Amtrak -> Taxi

I will be arriving at 7am Friday morning (domestic flight) and departing from EWR at 3:55pm Sunday (international)
All depends on your money situation. By far the nicest is:
1. EWR Station to Newark or Metro Park (depending on schedule)
2. Acela to Phiadelphia 30th St
3. Taxi to destination

* - If Acela doesn't work, Amtrak Northeast Regional isn't quite as nice, but on the short haul doesn't matter.

** - Acela is Business Class with First avail. Regional is Coach with Business avail.

Other options available on NJ Transit / SEPTA - but you are looking at commuter trains during rush hour. If you are arriving at 7:35 AM, not most relaxing end to your journey.

What is the current best way to travel from EWR to PHL city Center

From what i can tell i have 3-4 choices:
1. Shared Van/Bus - door-to-door
2. NJtransit->SEPTA->Taxi
3. Amtrak -> SEPTA -> Taxi
4. Amtrak -> Taxi

I will be arriving at 7am Friday morning (domestic flight) and departing from EWR at 3:55pm Sunday (international)Best and easiest? EWR Airtrain —> Amtrak —> Taxi.

You can easily grab a taxi at 30th St Station to your appointment in Center City as the train station is on the edge of Center City.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage

——————
I just checked the Amtrak schedule for you and I see that the first train from EWR is at 8:32am that arrives at 9:33.

If you need to be in Philly earlier than that, taking a NJ Transit train to a SEPTA train will actually be slower and that would be your taking a 7:17am or 7:36am train from the EWR. That itinerary would have you arrive at 9:42. So that's not an improvement.

If you need to arrive earlier, you may need to either rent a car (and sit in traffic), get car service, or find that bus or van of which you spoke earlier that isn't going to PHL but instead to Center City.

FYI - although the conductors are supposed to check for tickets, in my almost 20 years of riding SEPTA, I have never seen them check tickets between any of the Center City SEPTA stations (30th Street, Suburban, Market East). They start checking once they hit the Temple University stop after Market East, and the next stop after 30th Street going the opposite direction.

Anyway, Analise hit it on the button. Why take NJT and SEPTA when you can sit on a much nicer (and quieter) Amtrak train? There are plenty of cabs at 30th Street, but just be warned that Center City is clogged with traffic at that time of day because of the narrow colonial and one-way streets (thanks, William Penn, for not predicting that large cars and trucks would one day use these streets :D), so give yourself plenty of time and be prepared to get out of the cab several blocks away and walk to your destination.

FYI - although the conductors are supposed to check for tickets, in my almost 20 years of riding SEPTA, I have never seen them check tickets between any of the Center City SEPTA stations (30th Street, Suburban, Market East). I certainly don't have the same amount of experience as you, but I did get asked once. I was going from Suburban Station to Market East and didn't feel like walking. I just told the conductor I got on the wrong train and he let me slide.

I'll second the recommendations for Amtrak. I've done this trip a number of times. There's an Amtrak station at EWR and you can take it all the way to 30th Street Station in Philly. You'll only be a 5-10 minute cab ride to downtown from there.

If you aren't paying for the ticket, I'd go with the Acela which is far nicer (and a bit faster) than the standard NE Regionals.

I'll second the recommendations for Amtrak. I've done this trip a number of times. There's an Amtrak station at EWR and you can take it all the way to 30th Street Station in Philly. You'll only be a 5-10 minute cab ride to downtown from there.

If you aren't paying for the ticket, I'd go with the Acela which is far nicer (and a bit faster) than the standard NE Regionals.Only regional trains stop at EWR going south to Phillly. Acela trains skip EWR. But the OP shouldn't be concerned; the regional trains are certainly comfortable and electrical outlets are available in the cars with the light blue seats. ^

Best and easiest? EWR Airtrain —> Amtrak —> Taxi.

You can easily grab a taxi at 30th St Station to your appointment in Center City as the train station is on the edge of Center City.
—————— Amtrak's good, but a taxi in Center City is a slow way to spend a lot of money. Depending on the final destination, SEPTA could be much quicker.

Amtrak's good, but a taxi in Center City is a slow way to spend a lot of money. Depending on the final destination, SEPTA could be much quicker.If SEPTA gets to the OP to his appointment from 30th St Station, why not? Subways are always faster but the question is if there is a SEPTA station near the OP's destination. If there is, skip the cab and take the subway from Amtrak. ^

If SEPTA gets to the OP to his appointment from 30th St Station, why not? Subways are always faster but the question is if there is a SEPTA station near the OP's destination. If there is, skip the cab and take the subway from Amtrak. ^

There isn't a direct connection to the subway at 30th Street (Amtrak station). You have to walk outside and cross 31st Street to get to the SEPTA subway and trolley station. It's quite close, but can be a pain when it's raining/snowing/cold.

I would like to note that the subway (Market-Frankford Line) entrance is at the corner of 30th St & Market St (directly acorss from the Amtrak's 30th St Station's southwest entrance).

Also to the OP, if you go to 30th St Station (via SEPTA or otherwise), and are considering traveling to your destination in Center City via public transportation- or for any questions-

Please feel me to contact us at 215-580-7800, or online at www.septa.org and use the online form or chat feature.

...and are considering traveling to your destination in Center City via public transportation- or for any questions-

Please feel me to contact us at 215-580-7800, ...Wow, I'm impressed that Septa has a presence here. Welcome!

Let me juat add a little note here.


If the OP has not yet booked his Flights, and is flying United, I would suggest using ZFV as your destination/origin instead of EWR. ZFV is the Philadelphia 30th Street Station, and will book you on a "connecting flight" from EWR to Philadelphia via Amtrak.

In some cases, buying the combined ticket will save you hundreds of dollars over booking just to EWR.


Also, it is SEPTA policy that you can ride from Philadelphia 30th St to Suburban Station or Market East Station (or the reverse) for free by displaying your Amtrak ticket/ticket stub.

Let me juat add a little note here.


If the OP has not yet booked his Flights, and is flying United, I would suggest using ZFV as your destination/origin instead of EWR. ZFV is the Philadelphia 30th Street Station, and will book you on a "connecting flight" from EWR to Philadelphia via Amtrak.

In some cases, buying the combined ticket will save you hundreds of dollars over booking just to EWR.


Also, it is SEPTA policy that you can ride from Philadelphia 30th St to Suburban Station or Market East Station (or the reverse) for free by displaying your Amtrak ticket/ticket stub.Talk about a font of information! Good to know!

Hi Im using the UA/Amtrak EWR-ZFV Connection next week. I understand from another thread here that the Amtrak Quiktrack Kiosks have issues sometimes reading your reservation and are unable to find them. Im traveling R/T from LAX for about $250 ( very good fare ) Guess it will all work out in the end.. Yes, the ZFV Fares are very good value..