Closest train to NYC from Lehigh Valley

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by BeerGeek40

I've taken the trains into NYC many times over the years, obviously you're trying to save a few bucks and I salute you

The best way in for what you are trying to do is at Summit. The station is close by route 78 and the train is a "midtown direct" meaning no transfers required. The one negative with Summit is a poor parking situation....the garage is often times full and there isn't much parking available near the station.

Another good option is Somervlle. You would have a transfer at Newark, either a PATH train or a transfer onto the Raritan Valley Line. But the good thing about this station is that there is a ton of parking availabe nearby in the Shop Rite lot. FREE! FREE!

Stores near train stations are now cracking down on commuters parking there...and towing...alot

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by BeerGeek40

I've taken the trains into NYC many times over the years, obviously you're trying to save a few bucks and I salute you The best way in for what you are trying to do is at Summit. The station is close by route 78 and the train is a "midtown direct" meaning no transfers required. The one negative with Summit is a poor parking situation....the garage is often times full and there isn't much parking available near the station.

Another good option is Somervlle. You would have a transfer at Newark, either a PATH train or a transfer onto the Raritan Valley Line. But the good thing about this station is that there is a ton of parking availabe nearby in the Shop Rite lot. FREE! FREE!

I guess it's a personal opinion. The PATH trains are $2 vs $9.75 for Summit trains, and they are 22 minutes to WTC vs 57 minutes from Summit. If you miss your train it is 4-10 minutes for the next PATH train, while it is usually an hour from Summit.

It's not just money, it's money combined with frequency and time. The only thing that would be nice if the new signalling going in to the PATH trains allows them to increase operations to the point where some of the trains go nonstop to midtown as well to WTC.

Ultimately with the new transit center at WTC in a few years, there will be underground walkways to get to any of the subway lines.

[toobusytoday]

I think another consideration is the distance from home to the train station. I, personally think it's worth the expense if I have a shorter and easier drive home after I get off the train. I'm really surprised that some of the towns that are the last stop on the NJ transit line don't build up their parking lots for day trippers and commuters. SEPTA at least has good parking and it's not partial to who parks there.

[lammius]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I think another consideration is the distance from home to the train station. I, personally think it's worth the expense if I have a shorter and easier drive home after I get off the train. I'm really surprised that some of the towns that are the last stop on the NJ transit line don't build up their parking lots for day trippers and commuters. SEPTA at least has good parking and it's not partial to who parks there.

The towns have nothing to gain by providing parking for day trippers and commuters from elsewhere. That would generate more traffic, take up valuable real estate that could be used for something the towns could make more money on, and for what benefit? If they're really lucky a few of the commuters might buy a cup of coffee at DD. Too much cost for too little benefit and too many negatives.

Instead, the "last stop" towns could develop transit-oriented housing near the train stations and encourage more people to live right there instead of out in the hinterland.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by lammius

The towns have nothing to gain by providing parking for day trippers and commuters from elsewhere. That would generate more traffic, take up valuable real estate that could be used for something the towns could make more money on, and for what benefit? If they're really lucky a few of the commuters might buy a cup of coffee at DD. Too much cost for too little benefit and too many negatives.

Instead, the "last stop" towns could develop transit-oriented housing near the train stations and encourage more people to live right there instead of out in the hinterland.

What you are saying makes sense, but why is it that towns that are served by SEPTA do just that and it doesn't seem to be a problem? I take the train into Philly from Lansdale fairly often, pay a meter just a few dollars and off I go.

[alexiskai]

Just wanted to add this nugget of discovery: apparently there is a free shuttle bus that takes people from Manhattan to the IKEA in Elizabeth, NJ, on Sat and Sun. However, the NY-NJ leg only operates 10am-2:30pm and the NJ-NY leg only operates 12-6. And of course they say it's "round trip only," but it's not clear whether one could actually exploit it to get into Manhattan for an hour or so and then hop the bus back, or even go overnight. Might be fun to try.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

Just wanted to add this nugget of discovery: apparently there is a free shuttle bus that takes people from Manhattan to the IKEA in Elizabeth, NJ, on Sat and Sun. However, the NY-NJ leg only operates 10am-2:30pm and the NJ-NY leg only operates 12-6. And of course they say it's "round trip only," but it's not clear whether one could actually exploit it to get into Manhattan for an hour or so and then hop the bus back, or even go overnight. Might be fun to try.

From 12:00 to 2:30 PM is too short to exploit, and there is no overnight parking. A lot of people would just drop somebody off to get a free ride overnight, so I think they are probably pretty careful to look for people going the wrong way.

If Nexis4Jersey is correct that it is possible to find free street parking in Jersey city on weekends, then I would say $4.90 for New Jersey Turnpike tolls, plus $4 round trip per person for the PATH train is about as cheap as you are going to get for entry into the city without risking an expensive tow.