Taking Amtrak to Newark Airport

We live in Norwich and are flying overseas from Newark Airport in June.

Our travel agent suggested Newark over JFK as our departure point because it is easier to get to with the new monorail from Newark Liberty Airport station to the airport.

I haven%26#39;t used Amtrak at all since moving to Connecticut but used to use it frequently. My experience is that Amtrak is frequently late and sometimes by several hours. Missing a flight to Milan is not like missing a flight to Cleveland -- it means losing a day and perhaps a few hundred dollars.

Anyone gone from New London or other shoreline towns to EWR by train recently? Is the Amtrak service reliable? Am I worrying over nothing?

Taking Amtrak to Newark Airport

This note might be a little late to help, but here goes anyway.

I used to travel Amtrak weekly between Newark and Boston, and generally speaking, you have nothing to worry about. EWR is about a million times easier to get to than JFK. Since southbound Amtrak trains start in boston, I have never known one to leave late. (This stands in contrast to trains coming from Washington, which frequently arrive late). After that, they own the rails almost entirely from Boston to New Haven, and so frequently get in early, and are very rarely behind schedule on this stretch. After New Haven, they are on Metro-North rails and move slower and frequently lose some time (5-30 minutes is typical in my experience, but they are on time about as often as well). After a 15 minute wait in NY, you%26#39;re almost there.

If you were to take a train to JFK, you%26#39;d have to switch at Penn station to a LIRR train, then take that to the monorail to the terminal. That%26#39;s at least half an hour plus coordinating different schedules.

In your shoes, I wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to take the train. Traffic problems are more unpredictable, and you have alternate train (as well as cab and bus) service along the entirety of your route (NJTransit serve EWR as well).

If this is too late to help you, hopefully it will be of use to someone else. good luck!

Taking Amtrak to Newark Airport

I agree with raillaw. i take the amtrak in this corridor about once every other month. It keeps to its schedule pretty well assuming there isnt some huge event that prevents trains from moving at all. Its much more reliable than the traffic for sure.

I think of a late arrival on amtrak as meaning something like 15-20 minutes after the scheudled time. Pick a train that gives you a cushion and you should enjoy a comfortable and stressfree ride to the airport.

Hi charlesct, I live in Hamden and always take the train to Newark Airport, it is quick and direct and I have never experienced any delays to the point where I have missed a flight. I would recommend it. Just plan to arrive in Newark before the two hour check-in time and you%26#39;ll be fine.