Public transit from Penn Station, NJ to Penn Station, NY

[ladysail2]

I finally decided where to stay…Double Tree Penn Station, NJ. About the same price as a decent NYC hotel but more space. So…I need to get into Manhattan. I see PATH, commuter train and light raiI. I cannot find which one to take to get to NY Penn Station. I know it’s not PATH by the map. There are 3 coloured lines that lead from one Penn to the other, but they don’t identify what they represent.  There are yellow lines, red ones and blue ones.  And does one buy a ticket at a booth or a machine?  Is there an easy-to-understand website with alot of explanation for me to learn these details.   Thanks so much for any help! 

[TheOldBear]

NJ transit commuter train - according to the NJ Transit trip planner site - the trip takes about 23 minutes, with a $5.25 'regular' fare.

 

 

[meadowlander]

3 hours ago, ladysail2 said:

I need to get into Manhattan. I see PATH, commuter train and light raiI. I cannot find which one to take to get to NY Penn Station.

 

And does one buy a ticket at a booth or a machine?

 

Is there an easy-to-understand website with alot of explanation for me to learn these details.   Thanks so much for any help! 

As posted in #2 NJ Transit trains from Newark Penn Station will get you to NY Penn Station. PATH trains (different from NJ Transit) can get you to lower Manhattan & 33rd Street in NYC. Light rail serves Newark and surrounding areas, not NYC.

 

Was in NPS last December and there are booths staffed by people that will sell NJ Transit tickets. There is also an info window near the ticket booth & seating area manned by a security guard.

 

NJtransit.com will be helpful, especially their 'plan your trip' link.

 

 

[ladysail2]

2 hours ago, TheOldBear said:

NJ transit commuter train - according to the NJ Transit trip planner site - the trip takes about 23 minutes, with a $5.25 'regular' fare.

 

 

Thank you. I just couldn’t seem to get started in the planning.  Lucky me, I qualify for the senior rate (if there is one).  😊

[ladysail2]

2 hours ago, meadowlander said:

As posted in #2 NJ Transit trains from Newark Penn Station will get you to NY Penn Station. PATH trains (different from NJ Transit) can get you to lower Manhattan & 33rd Street in NYC. Light rail serves Newark and surrounding areas, not NYC.

 

Was in NPS last December and there are booths staffed by people that will sell NJ Transit tickets. There is also an info window near the ticket booth & seating area manned by a security guard.

 

NJtransit.com will be helpful, especially their 'plan your trip' link.

 

 

Thank you so much. I was hoping that there would be an ‘information’ set up at the station. I can usually figure things out once I arrive but I don’t like looking like I’m totally lost.  You and TheOldBear have been most helpful!  😊

[philpcruiser]

On 6/2/2024 at 6:19 PM, ladysail2 said:

I finally decided where to stay…Double Tree Penn Station, NJ. About the same price as a decent NYC hotel but more space. So…I need to get into Manhattan. I see PATH, commuter train and light raiI. I cannot find which one to take to get to NY Penn Station.

What you want to see in Manhattan will dictate which (NJT or PATH) you should use. Path and NJT wind up a block apart in NYC, but PATH makes numerous stops within Manhattan.  If you want to be adventurous in Manhattan and wish to try your luck on the NYC subway, check the connections with PATH and NYC.  One will bring you closer to certain subway lines than the other.  

[ladysail2]

32 minutes ago, philpcruiser said:

What you want to see in Manhattan will dictate which (NJT or PATH) you should use. Path and NJT wind up a block apart in NYC, but PATH makes numerous stops within Manhattan.  If you want to be adventurous in Manhattan and wish to try your luck on the NYC subway, check the connections with PATH and NYC.  One will bring you closer to certain subway lines than the other.  

Thank you for taking the time to answer….I like being adventurous and will take the subway, LOL. It so happens that one of my ‘visits’ is on 8th street at 6Ave so I will take the PATH to it….then the subway up to the Times Square area. Of all my visits to NYC, I’ve never been there..daytime or night time. So it’s time to change that!  My visit is a while away so I have lots of time to figure things out.   With help from those more knowledgeable….I’m sure to get it right! 😊

[megr1125]

Friendly piece of advice:  do NOT be in Newark Penn Station late at night.  Also, if you plan on using NJ Transit trains, allow more time that you think.  This year has been a crap show with delays, service suspensions, equipment issues, etc.  And our national rail, Amtrak, owns the tracks and they've had a LOT of issues with bridges, tunnels, broken down trains, overhead wires and so on.

It gets way worse in the summer as much of the equipment is affected by the heat, and it's not even super hot yet. 

You can find a human at the ticket booths, use the kiosks or download the New Jersey Transit app (which can be great, and can be wonky).  PATH is operated by a different entity.  If you use PATH some lines have different weekend schedules.  

To be honest, if you need to be in Manhattan, and can cancel your current reservation, you may want to shop around for a hotel IN Manhattan.  It'll save you time commuting and it'll be more fun.  I feel safer in NYC than I do in downtown Newark.  While both NY Penn and Newark Penn station have their share of, shall we say, residents, IMO Newark Penn Station does a worse job managing the "non-passengers"  than NY Penn.  (I'm sure I'll get flamed for that too but my out of town friends HATE that station and I avoid it at all costs and I live an hour away, and have my entire life)

[ladysail2]

11 hours ago, megr1125 said:

Friendly piece of advice:  do NOT be in Newark Penn Station late at night.  Also, if you plan on using NJ Transit trains, allow more time that you think.  This year has been a crap show with delays, service suspensions, equipment issues, etc.  And our national rail, Amtrak, owns the tracks and they've had a LOT of issues with bridges, tunnels, broken down trains, overhead wires and so on.

It gets way worse in the summer as much of the equipment is affected by the heat, and it's not even super hot yet. 

You can find a human at the ticket booths, use the kiosks or download the New Jersey Transit app (which can be great, and can be wonky).  PATH is operated by a different entity.  If you use PATH some lines have different weekend schedules.  

To be honest, if you need to be in Manhattan, and can cancel your current reservation, you may want to shop around for a hotel IN Manhattan.  It'll save you time commuting and it'll be more fun.  I feel safer in NYC than I do in downtown Newark.  While both NY Penn and Newark Penn station have their share of, shall we say, residents, IMO Newark Penn Station does a worse job managing the "non-passengers"  than NY Penn.  (I'm sure I'll get flamed for that too but my out of town friends HATE that station and I avoid it at all costs and I live an hour away, and have my entire life)

Thank you for all the advice. I am never out after dark…hence, have never seen Times Square at night because I am solo.  Someday I’ll have a big burly escort to help me, just in case.  I am staying at the Doubletree which has a covered walkway from the station…daytime it should be okay.  I have looked at midtown hotels, the prices are steep,  but worse….most reviews talk about how tiny the rooms are. Since I am back at the hotel before 5 or 6, I like a decently sized room for the evening. The Doubletree isn’t much cheaper, but the rooms are a good size with comfy looking chairs.  The reviews are good too.

Thank you for the warning about delays…I’ll be prepared. My travel is in late-ish September so the heat should be gone..🤞 😊

[Nitemare]

NYC is the safest large city in the world.  You don't need an escort to go outside in Times Square at night.  It is FULL of tourists, SAFELY having a wonderful time.

 

I've been in Times Square at night at least 100 times in the past 10 years.  My tiny wife has been there with me most of the time, but she goes there without me as well.

Edited June 7 by Nitemare

[ladysail2]

On 6/7/2024 at 11:53 AM, Nitemare said:

NYC is the safest large city in the world.  You don't need an escort to go outside in Times Square at night.  It is FULL of tourists, SAFELY having a wonderful time.

 

I've been in Times Square at night at least 100 times in the past 10 years.  My tiny wife has been there with me most of the time, but she goes there without me as well.

It’s not so much being right in Time’s Square amongst lots of people, it’s the walk/ride back to the hotel, but then it wouldn’t be that late. My trip will be in the Fall when sundown is still fairly early in the evening. I could take a cab if I feel uneasy as well.  I look forward to the ‘bright lights’ experience.  😊