New York City - Help - How to get from EWR to Philly

Coming into EWR after 7pm. There is an Amtrak train that we can take directly from EWR to Philly but between customs and claiming our luggage I'm afraid we'll miss the connection...by the way, anyone know how long it usually takes to go through customs at EWR? Anyway, we either need to go from EWR to the Newark Penn Station or from EWR to Penn Station in New York. I'm sure a cab is the easiest way to go but not the most economical. I understand that there is an Air Train at EWR that takes people to a central station where one can take a train into NY's Penn Station. Is there also a train there that goes into Newark's Penn Station? Is there a lot of walking involved? Does either location involve leaving the station and walking outside? We'll have a bit of a layover waiting for the Philly train so I also wonder which of the two stations is a safer environment for 2 women traveling alone. Any suggestions, hints and advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Couldn't you fly from EWR to PHL?

It looks like there are two Amtrak trains after 7:00 pm that stop at EWR and will take you to PHL (looking at a random date). Your best bet may be to pick up a cab from your terminal to Newark Penn Station and grab Amtrak from there to Philly. However, if you are concerned about safety, why not stay at an airport hotel and then grab Amtrak in the morning? (edited to add: Newark Penn Station isn't unsafe)

To answer your other question, though, yes, you can take the Airtrain from your terminal to the Rail link station where you can get on NJ Transit to Newark Penn. The Airtrain is up a bunch of escalators from baggage claim (but I've never flown international at EWR so can't answer about customs). Once you get to the Rail link stop, it's up another escalator where it'll cost you $7.75 ($5.50 to get through the gate and $2.25 to get on NJ Transit to Newark).

I don't think you would want to go all the way to NYC.

It looks like there are two Amtrak trains after 7:00 pm that stop at EWR and will take you to PHL (looking at a random date). Your best bet may be to pick up a cab from your terminal to Newark Penn Station and grab Amtrak from there to Philly. However, if you are concerned about safety, why not stay at an airport hotel and then grab Amtrak in the morning?

To answer your other question, though, yes, you can take the Airtrain from your terminal to the Rail link station where you can get on NJ Transit to Newark Penn. The Airtrain is up a bunch of escalators from baggage claim (but I've never flown international at EWR so can't answer about customs). Once you get to the Rail link stop, it's up another escalator where it'll cost you $7.75 ($5.50 to get through the gate and $2.25 to get on NJ Transit to Newark).

I don't think you would want to go all the way to NYC.

elevators also and you can take the luggage cart onto the AirTrain

Thanks for taking the time to respond.
1)We can't fly to Philly as we won't have a connecting flight to our home airport till the next day and have to be home as, sigh, work calls.
2) You're correct that there are 2 evening trains from EWR but the only one that will get us to our connecting train (we don't live in Philly) leaves at EWR at 8:22pm and between luggage & customs I don't know if we'll make it.
3)You may be right about grabbing a cab so I'll look into that.
4)I have a new knee so bless you for cluing me in re elevators.
I can always count on you folks on flyertalk...thanks, again!!

*nevermind- bad info*

Please continue to follow this thread in the Flyertalk NYC Forum (Travel & Dining>United States>NYC).
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

You say We, which implies more then one person. It may be easier to just do a one way car rental from Newark, pick it up when you land, turn it in the next day in Philly.

It may cost less then a couple Amtrak tickets, and you don't have to hassle with luggage and trains and connections.

For one person probably not, but two or more bet it's less money, certainly easier.

You go "outside" on the train platform at EWR as you're on the platform, and it is not enclosed, though there are enclosed waiting rooms on the platform. The same trains that go to Newark Penn (NWK) also go to NY Penn (NYP). Both of those are north of EWR, which means that you'll pass through NWK on the way to NYP. Based on that, you may as well just wait at NWK. It isn't unsafe for waiting at. That being said, the platforms are outside (though covered from rain) while at NYP you wait upstairs inside the terminal which will be immune from the weather.

You'll probably make the 8:22p train if your flight lands at 7p (or shortly thereafter). There aren't a lot of International flights arriving at that time, so the lines should be short. I know there is a CO flight in from Aruba around that time, but passengers pre-clear at AUA. Are you on that flight or a different international destination? If you pre-clear that will help significantly.

S.

Of course the other option, which would be the cheapest, would be to catch a New Jersey Transit train from the EWR station to Trenton, and then transfer to a SEPTA train to Philly. A one way fare will run about $17.00.
This is a much slower way to go (about 2.5 hours versus just a bit over an hour on Amtrak), the seats are less comfortable and not much storage space for oversized luggage, but you will save a substantial amount of money and the the NJT trains run quite frequently.

You say We, which implies more then one person. It may be easier to just do a one way car rental from Newark, pick it up when you land, turn it in the next day in Philly.

It may cost less then a couple Amtrak tickets, and you don't have to hassle with luggage and trains and connections.

For one person probably not, but two or more bet it's less money, certainly easier.Of course cordelli is right on the money here. IMO there is no better way to do this than with a rental car. I am one of the great advocates of renting at an airport and dropping off close to wherever I'm going.

This is why I love flyertalk...I never even considered renting a car!! I may just do that. Thanks, folks!

This is why I love flyertalk...I never even considered renting a car!! I may just do that. Thanks, folks!That's why we're here and one of these days you will probably return the favor by thinking of something that we did not. Have a good trip on the NJ Tpke. :)

Of course cordelli is right on the money here. IMO there is no better way to do this than with a rental car. I am one of the great advocates of renting at an airport and dropping off close to wherever I'm going.

+2

That's why we're here and one of these days you will probably return the favor by thinking of something that we did not. Have a good trip on the NJ Tpke. :)


Id get out of EWR and stay on Route 1 all the way to Philly, no tolls and isnt much longer then taking the Turnpike especially at night

Id get out of EWR and stay on Route 1 all the way to Philly, no tolls and isnt much longer then taking the Turnpike especially at nightI think that is very bad advice. Even late, Route 1 really drags thru the corridor from Elizabeth thru Edison. If you are going to Bucks County or the very far Northeast, IMO get around that sector by using the Tpke as far as exit 9 before getting onto Rte 1 near New Brunswick to cross the Delaware at Trenton.

As far as the rest of Philadelphia and the western suburbs are concerned, taking 1 would require them to pound down Roosevelt Blvd. "isnt much longer" is just not so. If they are going to Center City, the Camden exit 4 at Maple Shade and then the Ben Franklin is much superior (and, I would guess, more than half an hour faster) and if they are going to South Philly, taking Rte 1 would constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

And the NJ toll from Newark to Camden is less than $4, a sum that is well worth the time saved.