AirTrain Newark

AirTrain Newark
Overview
Type Straddle-beam monorail
Locale Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey
Termini Newark Liberty International Airport (NJT station) (north)
P1 (south)
Stations 8
Operation
Opened May 31, 1996
Owner Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Operator(s) Bombardier Transportation
Character Elevated
Rolling stock Von Roll Mk III
Technical
Line length 3 mi (4.8 km)
Track gauge monorail
Electrification Dual third rails
Route map

 Newark International Airport Amtrak NJ Transit
 P4
 Terminal C
 Terminal B
 Terminal A
 P3
 P2
 P1

AirTrain Newark is a 3-mile (4.8 km) monorail system connecting the terminals at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and trains at Newark Liberty International Airport Station on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), where transfers are possible to Amtrak and New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line[1]

As of 2015, the system is slated for replacement.[2][3]

History

Bombardier rolling stock in 2011
View from the front car of the train, 1997

The monorail opened in 1996 and initially served only as an airport circulator, a service which allows passengers to transfer between airport terminals or concourses.[4][5] The monorail track was refurbished and extended to the NEC, with construction beginning in 1997. The system reopened for service on October 21, 2000.[6] When first opened in 1996 a fleet of 12 six-car Bombardier trains ran on the network. It has expanded to 18 six-car trains.[7]

The contract to build the system was awarded to Von Roll AG, but the project was finished by Adtranz, who acquired Von Roll's monorail division while the system was being built. Adtranz was later acquired by Bombardier Transportation, who continues to operate the AirTrain under contract to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,[8] the operator of the airport.

AirTrain service was suspended from May 1, 2014, for 75 days, until mid-July, to allow repairs.[9][10] Repairs were completed early, and the service re-opened on July 3.[11]

The system has a projected lifespan of 25 years. In April 2015, the PANYNJ suggested that initial work to replace the system would cost $40 million in consultant and engineering studies.[2][12][13][5]

Fare

The train is free, except to and from the Amtrak/New Jersey Transit station. In that case, the fare is included in the price of the train ticket. New Jersey Transit and Amtrak monthly pass holders must pay an extra $5.50 to ride AirTrain, unless they set EWR as the origin or destination stop for their pass.[14]

Stations

Platform-level interior of P3 station, 2008

The AirTrain has three major stations within the airport, one for each main terminal (A, B, and C). These stations sit on top of the terminal buildings. There are four other stations (P1, P2, P3, and P4) for the parking lots and rental car facilities plus an eighth at the Northeast Corridor. Automated announcements recorded by traffic reporter Bernie Wagenblast tell riders which airlines can be found in each terminal, as well as connections at other stations. In 2007, the average daily paid ridership was 4,930.[15]

The stations are:

See also

An AirTrain over the P3 parking lot, 2005, with the Anheuser-Busch Newark factory in the background

References

  1. ↑ Guide to Civil Engineering Projects In and Around New York City (2nd ed.). Metropolitan Section, American Society of Civil Engineers. 2009. p. 94.
  2. 1 2 "Will the Newark airport monorail keep running while a replacement is built?". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.northjersey.com/news/newark-airtrain-s-demise-comes-as-no-surprise-1.1473289
  4. ↑ Sharkey, Joe (June 1, 1996). "NEW JERSEY DAILY BRIEFING;Monorail Opens With Spat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Tangel, Andrew; Janos, Adam (May 1, 2015). "Port Funds Plan to Replace Newark AirTrain". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ Sullivan, John (October 22, 2000). "Newark's Train to The Plane". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Bombardier signs $243-million monorail contract for Newark airport". The Globe and Mail. August 3, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Port Authority of New York & New Jersey". panynj.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ Strunski, Steve (April 8, 2014). "Newark airport monorail to close for two months for repairs starting May 1". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "MEDIA ADVISORY - AIRTRAIN NEWARK SERVICE TO BE SUSPENDED FOR REPAIRS BEGINNING MAY 1, 2014" (Press release). PANYNJ. March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ Associated Press (July 3, 2014). "AirTrain running again at Newark airport after 2 months of repairs". NJ.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ Strunsky, Steve (April 27, 2015). "Newark airport monorail targeted for scrap heap, cost $354M to build". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Cost to replace Newark airport monorail could top $1B, experts say". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ "New Jersey Transit". njtransit.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  15. ↑ "LIRR, AirTrain, Tri-Rail Note Higher Annual or Daily Passenger Counts". Progressive Railroading. February 8, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2009.

Route map:

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