What is the station at Newark like?

[Anneco]

I have not traveled on a train since I was a kid. The only station I am familiar with is a very small station in Colorado and logic tells me Newark is going to be much larger.

What can I expect? Our train leaves at 11:22 and we will have to pick up our tickets and we will have luggage to check. I will be traveling by myself with a 4 year old. How much time should we allow before the train departs? We will have about a 2 hour drive to get there so I want to make sure we allow enough time. Are there carts like at the airport to help haul luggage?

Thank you!

Anne

 

[blueman271]

Im going to assume that your talking about Newark NJ and not Newark DE. You can expect a busy station with a lot of train movements. I would say get there about an hour before your train is scheduled to depart as that should give you more than enough time to get your tickets and check your luggage. I cant ever remember seeing any luggage carts at the station but I do know that Redcaps are available and for about the price of a luggage cart they will be more than happy to carry your luggage for you. There are a decent amount of food options in the station, including a McDonald's, a bakery, two sandwich shops (i think), and a couple of assorted carts. Also make sure you check the big board in the main waiting room or any of the monitors throughout the station for your trains track assignment.

P.S. You cant actually check your baggage at the Amtrak ticket counter in Newark, you have to take it to the baggage room. Just walk down the main hallway, and make your second left. The baggage room will be on your right and will be clearly marked.

 

[the_traveler]

I assume you mean Newark, NJ - as Newark Liberty Airport and Newark, DE do not offer checked baggage service.

I personally am not familiar with the station, but you must check your baggage at least 30 minutes prior to the train's departure time. Also assuming you meant Newark, NJ - where are you traveling to?

You can not check your baggage on most trains that you travel on between Newark and (say) Washington, DC or Boston. But you could check your bags to Washington - they would just be carried on another train. That would mean you would have to check your bags in Newark before the earlier train departs or go back to the station in Washington to get you bags after the later train arrives.

 

[Anneco]

Thank you!

Yes I am talking about NJ, and the main station not whatever the airport provides.

K, that gives me an idea what to expect. I do not like walking into totally unknown situations especially when I am relying on others to drop me off.

Is the station similar to an airport where there is room at the curb to drop off passengers and unload luggage? I have just enough that it would be a struggle to try to get everything myself but I could probably do it.

I am really looking forward to this. We are only going to DC but I thought my daughter would enjoy this better than another flight or renting a car.

 

[Anneco]

You can not check your baggage on most trains that you travel on between Newark and (say) Washington, DC or Boston. But you could check your bags to Washington - they would just be carried on another train. That would mean you would have to check your bags in Newark before the earlier train departs or go back to the station in Washington to get you bags after the later train arrives.

Why is this? We are traveling Newark to DC and I would really not like to have to go back to DC to get my luggage. I guess I would rather know this now than be surprised.

 

[the_traveler]

Again not being familiar with NWK, I believe there is room at the curb like you describe. And since you would only be going from NWK to WAS, you may want to use a Redcap to carry your bags to the train in Newark and another Redcap to carry your bags from the train in Washington. This way, you will not have to return to the station late on to get your bags!

Most trains that travel between New York and Washington that go beyond (like to Florida and New Orleans) do not carry passengers locally between New York (including Newark) and Washington. Those passengers must go on a Northeast Regional, and those (except the overnight train and only at certain stations) do not carry checked baggage.

 

[jackal]

You can not check your baggage on most trains that you travel on between Newark and (say) Washington, DC or Boston. But you could check your bags to Washington - they would just be carried on another train. That would mean you would have to check your bags in Newark before the earlier train departs or go back to the station in Washington to get you bags after the later train arrives.

Why is this? We are traveling Newark to DC and I would really not like to have to go back to DC to get my luggage. I guess I would rather know this now than be surprised.

The Northeast Regional trains that carry local traffic between New York and Washington do not have baggage cars, so they cannot handle checked luggage. (The exceptions are the overnight ones, trains #66/67.)

There are a number of long-distance services that originate at New York Penn and continue through Washington to points south and west, but for scheduling and revenue-enhancement purposes, Amtrak does not allow local traffic to ride these trains. However, most of these trains do have baggage cars and therefore can carry checked baggage.

So, if you check your bags in Newark, they will travel on the first available long-distance train offering checked baggage service. So, as the_traveler said, you can either drop your bags off before your trip (even a day or more early) and they will be waiting for you in WAS, or you can check your bags in Newark when you arrive at the station, and you will have to wait for them in WAS.

(If you can let us know what time your train departs or the train number, we can figure out how early you'd have to drop it off or how long you'd have to wait in WAS for it.)

A third option which was not mentioned is that you may not need to check your baggage. As long as you can easily handle your bags, there is plenty of room on-board to take a reasonable amount of luggage without checking them (the overhead racks are quite large--MUCH larger than even the largest airline overhead bins--and there may be an area for bags in the vestibule, although I don't know if the commuter-oriented Regional trains have these). As long as you can easily and quickly get your bags on-board and stowed, no one will challenge you. But if you struggle with your bags and can't move quickly, the car attendant or conductor may challenge you and not allow you to board the train with your luggage. So pack lightly!

 

[Anneco]

Thanks for all the replies and help!

I actually made a call to Amtrak to clear up luggage so I understood. I will have to take it all to the train like you said. I am glad I know that! Even though the train is a couple weeks off, we leave early tomorrow for the start of the trip so I am trying to clear up last minute things so I can relax.

I actually wish the train ride was a little longer.

 

[Anneco]

The problem with packing lightly is that we will be on a 3 week trip! The biggest issue (bag) will be her carseat but by then I might be able to make it smaller. Right now is is that bag is full of the carseat and clothes for friends I am visiting. Will be leaving some in NJ so I might be able to make it work. We will only have 2 bags that would have been checked so I think it is going to work out ok.

I want to say it is the 195 Northeast Regional (going off memory from when I was on the phone with Amtrak).

 

[the_traveler]

Is it ~11:20 to ~2:20 on a Saturday or Sunday? If so, it is #195.

If you do use a Redcap, they can take you right to (and sometime onto) the train. They may even help you place your bags! (Just be sure to tip them for their extra help!)

 

[Anneco]

Sounds good about the Redcap! It is mainly the carseat bag that is a pain to carry, if not for that it would be a breeze. Will have to remember to have money ready. It will also help me get through the station correctly!

It is a 11:20 on a Sunday, so I did have the correct train. How long before do the trains open for boarding?

Only train here we have dealt with is the Zephyr and it is usally late and the one time my husband caught it, it was 30 mins early! But again it was a very small station.

 

[jackal]

Actually, this should work perfectly--the Silver Star (train 91) leaves Newark at 11:12am and offers checked baggage service!

So if you can make sure to get your bags checked absolutely no later than 10:42am (and preferably earlier), since bags must be checked 30 minutes before departure, they should make that train and be waiting for you in Washington.

If you miss that option, the next train with checked-baggage service is the Silver Meteor, departing at 3:38pm and arriving sometime around 7pm.

But if your bags make the Silver Star, then things should work great for you!

 

[the_traveler]

Unlike planes, and unless it is the originating station or a station that have a separate arrival and departure time shown on the schedule, trains usually stop only for 1-2 minutes. (But they will not leave before everyone boards - if someone needs more time - like if someone is in a wheelchair - they won't leave unless everyone is ready! )

They can leave whenever they're ready, but not before the scheduled departure time. If you're scheduled to depart at 12:36, don't arrive at 12:38! If the train is on time or early, it may have departed at 12:36! (Also remember your watch may be a minute or so off from the conductor's watch.)

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Make sure you go the the cafe car and order some delicious food. Or not so delicious food. But order it anyway. Also, book longer train trips in the future. The Regional is not the nicest train on Amtrak's system.