Crossings · No. 03 of 10

Amtrak (Northeast Corridor)

The same tunnel as NJ Transit, a reserved seat, a steeper fare.

Amtrak runs the same Northeast Corridor and the same North River Tunnels as NJ TRANSIT, so the leg into New York Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall is identical track and roughly the same 20-odd minutes — only the seat is reserved and the fare is premium and demand-priced. For a single stop it is almost never the value play against the $17 NJ TRANSIT ticket. It earns its place when you already hold a rail pass, want a guaranteed seat for the bags, or are simply staying aboard a longer Northeast Regional or Acela you boarded somewhere down the line.

In sequence

1. From EWR, take the AirTrain link to Newark Liberty Airport Station — but confirm your specific train calls there, and note the 2026 P4 truncation puts a shuttle bus on the last stretch to the platform.

2. Or skip the airport stop entirely and board at Newark Penn Station, where every Northeast Regional and Acela stops.

3. Ride one stop through the North River Tunnels to New York Penn Station / Moynihan Train Hall.

4. Finish on the subway, on foot or by cab to your zone — no toll, no congestion charge.

The cost, unpacked

Northeast Regional and Acela fares to New York Penn are dynamic — typically from about $45 one-way and climbing toward Acela rates — many times the NJ TRANSIT fare for the identical North River Tunnel run.

Field notes on this crossing

Go deeper — the listicles and explainers tied to this way across:

• The 20-minute train: NJ Transit vs Amtrak under the Hudson Rail & transit
• The AirTrain Newark replacement, explained Rail & transit
• All field notes Index