2 ms·

> the airline flight took about two to three hours Only if you assume that getting to and from the airport, and getting through security, and boarding, are all

> the airline flight took about two to three hours Only if you assume that getting to and from the airport, and getting through security, and boarding, are all instant. Megabus drop and pickup in Manhattan. Acela goes to and from 34th st. Neither require me to play strip tease or watch 45 minutes of idiotic bin-shoving pantomimes. The nearest airport to Manhattan is LGA, it takes 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. JFK and EWR are 40-60 depending on traffic. None of them have direct subway or rail connections, so you have to either take a car or cobble together various public transportation options (subway then bus, subway then shuttle, subway then taxi, train then monorail) with frequently unsynchronised schedules. The idea that air travel is more convenient than the Acela train in the NE corridor is just silly.

ghaff 11y ago
Personally, I prefer taking the train in the Northeast Corridor but: 1. There is a regular train from EWR right into Penn Station 2. Even though the train is more convenient in a number of ways, flying can get me from Boston into Manhattan earlier in the day than the train. Usually doesn't matter, but it may if you have a morning meeting and can't come down the previous night. 3. Although I've taken it, the Acela all the way from Boston to DC starts to not make sense vs. flying--and tends to cost more as well.
- jacques_chester 11y ago
  > 1. There is a regular train from EWR right into Penn Station There is, but it runs relatively infrequently and you have to switch to the monorail, which is only faster than walking because it has a right of way. > 3. Although I've taken it, the Acela all the way from Boston to DC starts to not make sense vs. flying--and tends to cost more as well. Sure. I cheat by being the smug git in the middle. But I'd still rather take the train, honestly, from Boston to DC. I hate flying with a radiant intensity that could launch a thousand astronomy PhDs.
  - takno 11y ago
    I hate the monorail at EWR with a passion - the slow speed, the long stop at a parking garage before the terminal, the insane loop round some kind of junkyard/parking lot it takes on the way to the railroad station, but all told it's still only about 10 minutes at worst.
    - ghaff 11y ago
      They have one of those at SFO also and it's not exactly fast. That said, it's a big improvement over the prior shuttle bus to the rental car center--though the BART connection I usually just take that if I'm going into the city in the vicinity of the convention center.
      - takno 11y ago
        The one at SFO is pretty standard. What's irritating about the one at EWR is that it's so unecessary. The loop seems like it's there because they couldn't get somebody to accept the supporting pillars in their precious car yard, and the general speed is a bit less impressive than the monorail to the space needle in Seattle.
  - tptacek 11y ago
    What's "infrequently"? Has it changed recently? I used to have to DTW-NYC once or twice a week, and I always routed to EWR because I knew I'd just be a quick train trip to Manhattan. I don't remember ever waiting very long.
    - jacques_chester 11y ago
      > What's "infrequently"? It depends on the time of day. Between 15 and 45 minutes, in my experience. That said, I find getting to EWR to be much easier than getting out of EWR.

ghaff 11y ago

Personally, I prefer taking the train in the Northeast Corridor but: 1. There is a regular train from EWR right into Penn Station 2. Even though the train is more convenient in a number of ways, flying can get me from Boston into Manhattan earlier in the day than the train. Usually doesn't matter, but it may if you have a morning meeting and can't come down the previous night. 3. Although I've taken it, the Acela all the way from Boston to DC starts to not make sense vs. flying--and tends to cost more as well.

jacques_chester 11y ago
> 1. There is a regular train from EWR right into Penn Station There is, but it runs relatively infrequently and you have to switch to the monorail, which is only faster than walking because it has a right of way. > 3. Although I've taken it, the Acela all the way from Boston to DC starts to not make sense vs. flying--and tends to cost more as well. Sure. I cheat by being the smug git in the middle. But I'd still rather take the train, honestly, from Boston to DC. I hate flying with a radiant intensity that could launch a thousand astronomy PhDs.
- takno 11y ago
  I hate the monorail at EWR with a passion - the slow speed, the long stop at a parking garage before the terminal, the insane loop round some kind of junkyard/parking lot it takes on the way to the railroad station, but all told it's still only about 10 minutes at worst.
  - ghaff 11y ago
    They have one of those at SFO also and it's not exactly fast. That said, it's a big improvement over the prior shuttle bus to the rental car center--though the BART connection I usually just take that if I'm going into the city in the vicinity of the convention center.
    - takno 11y ago
      The one at SFO is pretty standard. What's irritating about the one at EWR is that it's so unecessary. The loop seems like it's there because they couldn't get somebody to accept the supporting pillars in their precious car yard, and the general speed is a bit less impressive than the monorail to the space needle in Seattle.
- tptacek 11y ago
  What's "infrequently"? Has it changed recently? I used to have to DTW-NYC once or twice a week, and I always routed to EWR because I knew I'd just be a quick train trip to Manhattan. I don't remember ever waiting very long.
  - jacques_chester 11y ago
    > What's "infrequently"? It depends on the time of day. Between 15 and 45 minutes, in my experience. That said, I find getting to EWR to be much easier than getting out of EWR.