Look, New York Penn Station is a lot. It’s a subterranean maze that smells faintly of soft pretzels and desperation. If you're standing under the big departure board with a suitcase, trying to figure out the NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Newark Airport, you’ve probably already felt that spike of "am I in the right place?" anxiety.
Most people just wing it. They buy the wrong ticket, or they miss the "EWR" notation on the board and end up on a train that whistles right past the airport at 80 miles per hour. Honestly, it’s not that hard once you know the rhythm, but the consequences of getting it wrong involve a very expensive Uber from Rahway or a frantic sprint through the terminal.
Here is the deal. You are looking for a specific train, a specific ticket, and—as of January 2026—a very specific set of construction detours that might mess up your morning.
The Logistics: Finding the Right Track
First, let's get the terminology straight. "Penn Station" in this context always means New York Penn Station (34th Street). Don't confuse it with Newark Penn Station, which is the stop before the airport. If you get off at Newark Penn, you’re still a bus or a short Uber ride away from the gates.
You want the Newark Liberty International Airport Station.
Not every NJ Transit train going to New Jersey stops there. It's kinda annoying, but you have to look for the little airplane icon on the departure screens. Usually, it's the Northeast Corridor (NEC) or the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL). If the board says "Trenton" or "Jersey Avenue" or "Long Branch," there is a high chance it stops at the airport, but you’ve gotta double-check that "EWR" is listed under the station stops.
Trains run frequently—roughly every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours. If you miss one, don't sweat it. Another one is coming. The ride itself is actually pretty quick. You’re looking at about 22 to 27 minutes of actual track time before you're stepping off at the airport rail link.
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The 2026 Construction Headache
Here is something nobody tells you until you’re standing on the platform: the AirTrain is currently undergoing a massive $3.5 billion replacement project.
Since January 15, 2026, there’s been a bit of a wrinkle for weekday travelers. If you are traveling between 5:00 AM and 3:00 PM on a weekday, the AirTrain isn't running between the NJ Transit station and the terminals. Instead, you have to hop on a shuttle bus.
It’s well-signed, but it adds about 15 minutes to your trip. If you’re flying on a Saturday or Sunday, the AirTrain is operating normally. Just keep that in mind if you have a tight connection.
The Money Part: What a Ticket Actually Costs
Don't buy your ticket from the conductor on the train. Just don't. They’ll hit you with a $5 surcharge that basically doubles the price of the trip for no reason.
The standard one-way fare for the NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Newark Airport is currently $16.05 (this includes the $9.00 AirTrain access fee).
Wait, why is it so expensive for a 20-minute ride? Because the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey charges a "gate fee" just to use that specific station. If you buy a ticket to Newark Penn Station, it's much cheaper, but then you're stuck in the city of Newark with no easy way into the airport besides a taxi.
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Ways to Pay
- The NJ Transit App: This is 100% the easiest way. Buy the ticket while you're sitting in the Uber to Penn Station. Just make sure you activate it before you board.
- The TVMs (Ticket Vending Machines): They are the orange and blue kiosks scattered around the concourse. They take cards and cash.
- The Ticket Window: If you like talking to humans, there are windows near the 7th Avenue entrance.
Pro tip: Keep your ticket handy. You need to scan the barcode twice—once for the conductor on the train, and again to get through the turnstiles at the Newark Airport station. If you lose that little slip of paper or your phone dies, you're paying that $9 fee again at the gate.
Navigating the Station Like a Local
New York Penn Station is split between several "landlords." NJ Transit operates out of the central and western parts of the station. If you find yourself in the beautiful, airy Moynihan Train Hall, you can still get to your train, but you’ll likely be boarding an Amtrak or a specific NJ Transit line that uses those western tracks (usually tracks 5 through 16).
Most of the airport-bound trains depart from the older NJ Transit concourse. It’s less "Instagram-worthy" and more "low ceilings and neon lights."
Once the track is announced (usually 10 minutes before departure), it’s a mad dash. People in New York don't "stroll" to their gates. They power-walk. Just follow the crowd carrying suitcases.
Getting from the Train to the Terminal
When the train stops at Newark Liberty International Airport Station, the doors open, and you’ll take an escalator up. This is where you scan your ticket to exit the NJ Transit area.
From here, you’re on the AirTrain (or the shuttle bus if it's a weekday morning in early 2026).
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- Terminal A: The newest, shiniest terminal. It's actually a bit of a trek from the AirTrain stop—expect a 15-minute walk through a covered walkway.
- Terminal B & C: These are much closer to their respective AirTrain stops.
Is the Train Better than an Uber?
Honestly? Usually, yes.
If you take a car from Midtown to EWR at 5:00 PM on a Friday, you are looking at a $80 to $110 fare and potentially 90 minutes of staring at the taillights of a delivery truck in the Holland Tunnel.
The train is immune to traffic. It costs $16.05. It takes 25 minutes.
The only time the train sucks is if you have four giant suitcases and a stroller. The gap between the platform and the train can be "kinda" wide, and juggling heavy bags through the turnstiles is a workout you probably didn't ask for.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
To make sure you don't end up on a TikTok "travel fail" video, follow this checklist:
- Download the NJ Transit App before you leave your hotel.
- Check the "DepartureVision" feature in the app to see which tracks are active.
- Look for the "EWR" icon on the big board at Penn Station.
- Buy a ticket that specifically says "Newark Airport." A ticket to "Newark Penn" will not get you through the airport turnstiles.
- Give yourself an extra 20 minutes if traveling on a weekday during the 2026 construction window.
The NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Newark Airport is the backbone of NYC travel for a reason. It’s cheap, it’s fast, and it works—provided you don't lose your ticket in the 20 minutes between Manhattan and Jersey.
If you're already at the station, head toward the orange NJ Transit kiosks now. Buying your ticket while the "Track TBA" is still on the screen saves you from the frantic line that forms the second the track number drops. Grab a coffee, find a pillar to lean against, and keep your eyes on that board.