Notes on Bus 62 to EWR
 

Today I had a mid-day weekday flight from EWR with no wife/kids and no luggage, so I figured I’d revisit the PATH-to-bus-62 option, which I haven’t used in a very long time.

Things may be a little different on weekends when those services aren’t as frequent, but leaving the city a little after 9:30am on a Tuesday it was totally smooth sailing. I left home a little later than intended and ended up heading toward Penn Station, figuring I’d just take the NJT train to EWR to make up time. But when I got to 34th/6th, there was a Journal Square PATH leaving in 2 minutes, so I just hopped on that. I got to EWR Terminal C about 70 minutes later (including changes at Journal Square and Newark Penn). The NJT train probably would have shaved off some time, but not a lot, and it would have cost much more.

A few notes:

• Bus 62 toward EWR (and onward toward Elizabeth) leaves from the Raymond Blvd side of Newark Penn. This is the main bus area, but there are some buses on both sides of the station, so be sure to go to the correct side.
• The fare is $1.60. I bought my ticket using the NJT app and just showed it to the driver. You can also pay with cash (exact change only I think) and it looked like you could probably tap a credit card.
• Once it leaves, the bus is scheduled for about 25 minutes from Newark Penn to EWR Terminal A, and a few more minutes to Terminals B and C. If the schedule works for you, this can actually make it FASTER for Terminal A than taking the NJT train to EWR, since the monorail at EWR is so slow and infrequent and doesn’t actually go all the way to Terminal A. Even if taking the NJT train from Manhattan, you can save money and have a more convenient (if less reliably scheduled) ride to Terminal A by buying a rail ticket to Newark Penn and taking the bus to Terminal A.
• The 62 bus does have a couple of luggage racks. I only had a daypack so I didn’t use them but something to note for the future.

The latter is a nice and welcome change; the few times I’ve taken the bus, there weren’t any luggage racks and some the regular riders getting on after Newark Penn were pretty salty about people using seats and blocking aisles with their luggage.

70 minutes from Herald Square, vs. probably 40 minutes via NJT/AirTrain (unless big schedule gap), to save like $10? Sounds like a terrible investment. :)

Only $2.50 more ($5.25 vs. $2.75) to Newark Penn Station.

My biggest complaint would be the odds that you don't get a seat (at least from EWR) is too high. Standing with bags at feet while you careen back and forth for 25 minutes was a one time thing for me.

The 62 bus can be especially chaotic too lol. That said I am guilty of taking it somewhat often.

Notes on taking bus 62 FROM EWR:

• I arrived at Terminal A this morning and the bus schedule showed only 20 minutes from Terminal A to Newark Penn, which seemed preferable to a 10-15 minute walk (or a bus) to the AirTrain + a slow monorail ride (plus it's cheaper), so I went with it.
• It ended up getting caught in a bit of traffic (not terrible traffic, but definitely slowing it down) so it was more like 35-40 minutes. Not surprising for 9am on a weekday, but if I'd known it would take 40 minutes I probably would have just taken the train.
• There was no luggage rack on this bus.
• I realized after I was on the bus that you can see real-time arrival information and bus locations on various public transit apps, which is much more helpful than the published schedule. My preferred app is the one simply called Transit (it has a green logo and the developer is Transit App, Inc.), but there are others that I think pull the same data.

So.... not quite as bullish on it as I was yesterday. I think next time I'll probably just take the train directly to/from EWR unless I'm truly not in a rush (after knocking the Terminal A Airtrain thing for a while, I guess I should actually try it). But for those trying to save a few bucks, or trying to eliminate one of the connections between the city and EWR Terminal A, the 62 bus is definitely a viable option if you have the time.

62 bus from Terminal C -> PATH WTC -> PATH 33rd for me this morning. Probably the fastest without much waiting today other than the usual morning traffic slow down on Broad St. coming off the ramp. Took a nap on the PATH 33rd train and woke up as we pulled into 33rd St station...lol

On weekends, don't even bother with 62 + PATH options if you are starting from and going into midtown Manhattan. Better off just stay on the PATH WTC and transfer at WTC/Fulton transit hubs.

Over the past 18 months, I've found the fastest route (for me) on a weekday is NJT to Penn and then express 2/3 to 14th. Weekday rail service is frequent enough that all the connections seem to line up and I don't wait more than a minute or two on any platform (AirTrain excepted).

Weekends are another story though. I've narrowly missed both NJT trains into the city and have ended up waiting on the platform for an hour for the next train. I'd go for the bus, but the main problem is that you have to roll the dice on a weekend morning as the buses are every 25 minutes (?) and the trains are every hour (?) so if you commit to one and miss, you're easily losing an hour in transfers or waiting on the platform.

Seriously considering just forking over the $40-50 for Uber on weekends at this point.

I'll consider taking NJT *to* EWR on a weekend, when I have more control over my timing to get to Penn Station (though MTA weekend trackwork is not much help these days).
I don't even bother looking if I'm arriving at EWR on the weekend and will just take Uber/car service; traffic isn't usually an issue.
Combining the infrequent bus timetable and NJT timetable seems like a nonstarter.

By infrequent bus schedule, are you including Coach USA? I've taken them a couple of times and found it tolerable. $18-19 to get to Port Authority terminal at 42nd was ok when by myself, compared to price of Uber. If you have 2-3 people a car makes more sense.

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No. The discussion is mostly on bus 62, which serves Elizabeth and Newark. $1.60 each way with onward travel to NYC for as little as $2.75. Regular adult fares quoted.

The Newark Airport Express is now over $21 one way. I used to take that one all the time (almost weekly) but it can be unreliable and the traffic in and out of the tunnel and on the turnpike can be a killer. Same issue with rideshare/taxi.

Not to get off topic but I also can't consider the Coach USA bus from EWR because of its unreliability. Unfortunately there's just no good public transit from EWR middays, nights, and weekends. They all have their drawbacks. Pick your poison.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the #62 bus from EWR to Newark Penn Station runs every 20 minutes for most of the day. (Early morning and later evening service is less frequent.)

Like all buses, the #62 can be subject to delay.

But yes, even from Newark Penn Station, there can be big gaps (up to ~50 minutes) in weekend train service to Manhattan.

Exactly -- why would I possibly consider an option where I could literally be standing around waiting for up to 70 minutes, when I would be at my destination in 40-45 with light traffic. Unless cost is really a barrier, but then why are you buying airplane tickets? :)