AirTrain Newark

This article is about the intra-airport people mover operating at Newark Liberty International Airport. For a similar monorail system at John F. Kennedy International Airport, see AirTrain JFK.
AirTrain Newark

AirTrain Monorail entering Newark Airport Rail Station, 2004
Overview
Type Straddle-beam monorail
Locale Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey
Termini Newark Airport rail station (north)
P1 (south)
Stations 8
Operation
Opening 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
Legend
Newark Airport rail station Amtrak New Jersey 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 the Newark Liberty International Airport train 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]

Automated announcements recorded by traffic reporter Bernie Wagenblast tell riders which airlines can be found in each terminal.In 2007, the average daily paid ridership was 4,930.[2]

The system is slated for replacement.[3]

History

Originally serving only as an airport circulator, a service which allows passengers to transfer between airport terminals or concourses, the monorail track was refurbished and extended to the NEC, with construction beginning in 1997. The system reopened for service on October 21, 2000.[4] 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.[5]

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,[6] the operator of the airport.

AirTrain service was was suspended from May 1, 2014, for 75 days, until mid-July, to allow repairs.[7][8] Repairs were completed early, and the service re-opened on July 3.[9]

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.[10][11][12]

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 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.[13]

Stations

An AirTrain over the P3 parking lot, 2005
View from the front car of the train, 1997

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.

See also

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. ↑ "LIRR, AirTrain, Tri-Rail Note Higher Annual or Daily Passenger Counts". Progressive Railroading. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  3. ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/will_the_newark_airport_monorail_keep_running_while_a_replacement_is_built.html#incart_river
  4. ↑ Sullivan, John (2000-10-22). "Newark's Train to The Plane". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Bombardier signs $243-million monorail contract for Newark airport". The Globe and Mail. August 3, 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
  6. ↑ AirTrain Newark > Home
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "MEDIA ADVISORY - AIRTRAIN NEWARK SERVICE TO BE SUSPENDED FOR REPAIRS BEGINNING MAY 1, 2014" (Press release). PANYNJ. March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ Associated Press (July 3, 2014). "AirTrain running again at Newark airport after 2 months of repairs". NJ.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ Strunsky, Steve (April 27, 2915). "Newark airport monorail targeted for scrap heap, cost $354M to build". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2015-04-27. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/cost_to_replace_newark_airport_monorail_could_top_1b_experts_say.html#incart_river
  12. ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/will_the_newark_airport_monorail_keep_running_while_a_replacement_is_built.html#incart_river
  13. ↑ New Jersey Transit

External links

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