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AirTrain Newark

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AirTrain Newark
Overview
OwnerPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
LocaleNewark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey
Termini
Stations7
Service
TypeStraddle-beam monorail
Operator(s)Bombardier Transportation
Rolling stockVon Roll Mk III
History
OpenedMay 31, 1996
Technical
Line length3 mi (4.8 km)
CharacterElevated
Track gaugemonorail
ElectrificationDual third rails
Route map
AirTrain Newark
Legend
Northeast Corridor
to Boston
 RailLink Station Amtrak NJ Transit
Northeast Corridor
to Washington
 P4
Terminal C
Terminal B
Former Terminal A (permanently closed)
(Employees only)
Terminal A
P1 (demolished)

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] The monorail opened in 1996, and as of 2019, is planned to be replaced.

History

Initial operations

AirTrain Newark in 2011
View from the front car of the train, 1997
An AirTrain over the P3 parking lot, 2005, with the Anheuser-Busch Newark factory in the background

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.[2][3] 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 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]

Replacement

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][3] In 2017, the Port Authority decided to include the then $1.7 Billion PATH extension in their 2017 10-year capital plan to Newark Liberty Rail Link Station, while the air train was given $300 million for maintenance and repairs.[13]


However, in January 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a plan for a $2 billion replacement project for the Newark AirTrain. Murphy has stated that replacement is necessary because the system is reaching the end of its projected 25-year life and is subject to persistent delays and breakdowns. The Port Authority would be responsible for funding the project.[14] In October 2019, the Port Authority board approved the replacement project with an estimated cost of $2.05 billion. Construction is expected to start in 2021 and be completed in 2024.[15] A draft environmental impact statement was completed in February 2021 when the proposed opening date was shifted to 2026.[16]

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 $7.75 to ride AirTrain, unless they set EWR as the origin or destination stop for their pass.[17]

In June 2019, the Port Authority proposed raising AirTrain Newark's fare from $5 to $7.75,[18][19] which was approved that September.[20] The fare increase took effect that year on November 1,[21][22] representing the first fare raise in sixteen years.[20]

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 a seventh (RaiLink station) 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.[23]

The stations are:

  • New Jersey Transit / Amtrak station
  • P4 (parking / hotel shuttles)
  • Terminal C
  • Terminal B
  • Terminal A
  • P3 (parking lot D / rental cars)
  • P2 (parking lot D / rental cars)
  • P1 (parking lot D / rental cars)

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. ^ Sharkey, Joe (June 1, 1996). "NEW JERSEY DAILY BRIEFING;Monorail Opens With Spat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Tangel, Andrew; Janos, Adam (May 1, 2015). "Port Funds Plan to Replace Newark AirTrain". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Sullivan, John (October 22, 2000). "Newark's Train to The Plane". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Bombardier signs $243-million monorail contract for Newark airport". The Globe and Mail. August 3, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Port Authority of New York & New Jersey". panynj.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  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. ^ "Will the Newark airport monorail keep running while a replacement is built?". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  11. ^ Strunsky, Steve (April 27, 2015). "Newark airport monorail targeted for scrap heap, cost $354M to build". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Cost to replace Newark airport monorail could top $1B, experts say". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  13. ^ "$2 Billion Plans to Replace Rapidly Aging Newark Airport Monorail Advance". NBCNewYork.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Reitmeyer, John. "Murphy Wants to Replace Newark Airport Monorail, No More 'Bubblegum' Fixes". Nj Spotlight. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  15. ^ Higgs, Larry (October 24, 2019). "Big money fixes coming to Newark airport's monorail, PATH stations". NJ.com.
  16. ^ https://www.nj.com/news/2021/02/new-airtrain-at-newark-airport-could-open-in-2026-replace-old-monorail.html
  17. ^ "New Jersey Transit". njtransit.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  18. ^ "Port Authority plans toll, fare hikes, $4 airport tax for taxis, app-based for-hire cars". ABC7 New York. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  19. ^ Guse, Clayton (June 25, 2019). "Port Authority plans to jack up bridge, tunnel, AirTrain prices, add $4 airport tax for taxis and app-based rides". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Port Authority approves fare and toll hikes, including new fee for airport rides". Pix11 New York. September 26, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  21. ^ Higgs, Larry (October 31, 2019). "Fare hikes from the Port Authority start Friday". nj. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "1st phase of Port Authority toll and fare hikes start Friday". ABC7 New York. October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "LIRR, AirTrain, Tri-Rail Note Higher Annual or Daily Passenger Counts". Progressive Railroading. February 8, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
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