Questions re: Amtrak from Newark Airport to New Haven

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>Hi, I just booked kiddo's August airline ticket to Newark (EWR) & now need to get the final connections to New Haven figured out. I called Connecticut Limo and they said their last shuttle to New Haven leaves at 4pm, so that option is out. We'd like to use Amtrak.</p>

<p>I am wondering if someone experience traveling from Newark Airport to Yale can answer some questions for me.</p>

<p>(1) Approximately how long does it take to get from the Newark airport baggage claim to the Amtrak train station? (flying Southwest airlines)</p>

<p>(2) Is it better to buy the Amtrak ticket now? The fare is showing as $70 1-way to New Haven. I am wondering if the flight it delayed, will Amtrak honor the ticket on a later train, or allow a $70 credit against a new ticket?</p>

<p>(3) The Southwest Flight is scheduled to arrive at 4:20pm. There is an Amtrak train at 6:02pm arriving New Haven at 8:19pm, or a 6:56pm train arriving at 9:31pm. I'm thinking that with getting the checked bags, kiddo could probably catch the 6:02 train? Or should I allow more time for the transfer & book the 6:56? I think it's better to have the ticket already in hand, right? (avoids long ticket lines, sold out train, paying $5 for the monorail to Amtrak, etc). </p>

<p>(4) Anything else you can tell me about Newark Airport/Newark Amtrak and connections? Is it pretty easy to navigate? It looks like there is a Monorail that leaves from somewhere in the airport terminal that goes to the Amtrak station. </p>

<p>(5) If worse case, there are major plane delays & the flight misses all the Amtrak trains, has anyone had their student stay in a Newark airport area hotel, then take the morning train the next day? By the way, can an 18-year old check into a hotel with a debit/visa card?</p>

<p>Thanks for any info you can give. This will be the first time going through Newark, as kiddo flew to Bradley/Hartford for Bulldog Days. I realize it might be cheaper to go through Penn Station, but dealing with 2 suitcases & laptop will be cumbersome enough. Had to book through Newark as the 2 best friends are flying the 3,000 miles to Newark together, then splitting up to head to their respective colleges. Kinda cool that they both start their frosh pre-orientation programs exactly the same day.</p>

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<p>Is your kid doing FOOT? If so, are they arriving the day of or the day before the program starts? I recall us having to be in New Haven by 4PM the day of.</p>

<p>If flights are very late, there is aa bus that runs from EWR to Grand Central, where the Metro North for New Haven leaves.</p>

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<p>Yes, coming in one day early.</p>

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<p>Posted another reply to the copy of this in parents thread.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>

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<p>Never taken Amtrak from Newark, but I can answer a few of your questions.</p>

<p>(2) Yes, buy now. Not sure about redeeming though. If you need to catch a later train, you can pay on the train, but it’s a bit more expensive.</p>

<p>(4) Yes, it’s very easy to navigate. Signs everywhere.</p>

<p>(5) A couple of my friends have actually slept inside the terminal before, but that’s not really relevant because there will be no need for your child to stay in Newark. If worst comes to worst, just go through Penn Station – it’s really not that bad. As for checking in, to my understanding, you have to be at least 21 to book a room. This could be different in Newark, so it’s best to contact the specific hotel yourself. Again, I don’t think it’ll come down to this.</p>

<p>Honestly, I think the Penn Station option is much better. There’s a train going from Newark Airport to Penn Station (15-20 minutes) right as you step outside. Once in Penn Station, you hop onto a subway to Grand Central (5 minutes). At Grand Central, you take Metro North to New Haven (90-100 minutes). Really, that’s just 1 transfer more than the Amtrak option, and for less than half the price. Moreover, you needn’t worry about missing any trains, as they run throughout the day and night (last train from Grand Central to New Haven leaves at 1:45 AM).</p>

<p>It’s also fairly difficult to get lost, given the abundance of signs and employees stationed throughout the stations.</p>