Air Train Newark
By David Paul Gerber
Newark Airtrain was the first rail service provided by the Port Authority. This service operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week and bears the original elements that is modeled after Airtrain JFK. The train runs from the new Amtrak/NJ Transit Newark International Airport to all 3 airport terminals and 4 parking areas. The similarities between Newark and JFK are the following:
- The train operates in an elevated monorail fashion (but the JFK AirTrain uses regular track while the Newark version operates on a monorail with the side 3rd rail for power.)
- The stations are glass enclosed and are climate controlled as well as ADA compliant. The Airtrain cars are also ADA compliant with audio and visual (LED displays on each car) aids in station announcements.
- The doors of the station and the train open simultaneously.
- There are luggage cart rentals for a $2 fee.
- The stations can take you indoors directly to the airport terminal.
Now for the differences between Newark and JFK:
- Newark Airtrain uses six car trains, two end cars with the motors and interior console for the movement, while the 4 cars in between are trailer cars. JFK uses one or two full length cars. The end cars on the Newark trains have the same rail fan window as the JFK counterparts at one end, however the cars are far narrower in width and the trailer cars have only side windows and you cannot see the next car in front or back. Did they build the Newark cars for privacy?
- Newark has benches and plants in each station, JFK does not.
- JFK boasts speeds up to 60 MPH on the high speed run from Station D: Jamaica to Station C: Federal Circle. Newark is very sluggish, especially from the NJ Transit station to the first stop inside Newark Airport.
We start our trip from Newark Liberty International Airport train station, after we get off from the Amtrak/NJ Transit Rail station and walk upstairs to the Airtrain fare control for the start of the trip.
We usually have the Airtrain fare included in the NJ Transit or Amtrak fare. The same ticket used for NJ Transit permits access through the turnstiles by inserting the card through the slot and waiting for the barriers to retract momentarily. Amtrak passengers just show the ticket to the customer service rep at the counter and are allowed in as special entry. There are NJ Transit ticket machines at both ends of fare control, the outside machines only sell Airtrain tickets, the inside machines sell NJ Transit tickets. After passing through fare control, there are $2 luggage cart rentals.
We walk through the automatic sliding doors and see the restrooms to the left, elevator to the center, and stairs/escalators to the right. We descend downstairs to the Airtrain level and board our train.
P4: Parking stop 4 for parking, courtesy vans, there is a big multi-level lot on the right side.
Terminal C: This is the first of the 3 terminal stops; the stop was built inside the terminal so there is no passageway needed. Most domestic and international Continental Airlines are served here. All 3 terminals have food courts and other airport services. The Airtrain runs to the rear of the terminals, while the roadways are in front.
Terminal B: Air Canada, Northwestern/KLM and other international airlines are housed here
Terminal A: United, most domestic and international American Airlines and Southwest are the major tenants here.
P3: Parking stop 3 for most rental car companies and Parking Rows 1 through 8
After leaving P3, there is a track that appears to be a yard lead. It is too far off to the distance to see the yard.
P2: More car rentals are here, mostly on-airport and off-airport
P1: Last stop on the Newark Airtrain, Parking rows 9-52 are here.