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Currently living in Williamsburg but getting ready to take a job in Newark and evaluating my options for the location of my next place (my lease ends in October). Is commuting via NJ Transit from Penn to Newark Penn more or less desirable than taking the Path from WTC? Anyone else do this? I see a lot of horror stories about the NJ Transit rails but also wondering if it is as bad on a reverse commute.
Thanks for the response. Im not that concerned with the monthly cost difference between the rail and the PATH (about $50), just want what is most convenient and will cause the least amount of issues on a daily basis.
From a living perspective, probably Midtown. There's a lot more to do and more options for groceries and the like. Financial District is quieter and you do have all of what you need, but not as much of it. The Oculus is awesome to commute from, Penn Station is pretty dingy.
It's a bit of a wash. Having done both rides, they're both doable and pretty easy. I'd probably base it around what you'd like to live around. NJTransit might be faster, but you need to catch specific trains which aren't as often as they are on the PATH. Living near Penn Station you technically have both, though transferring during commute I usually avoid.
A good benefit though is that you'll be reverse commuting. That should make your ride regardless of the mode much nicer.
Currently living in Williamsburg but getting ready to take a job in Newark and evaluating my options for the location of my next place (my lease ends in October). Is commuting via NJ Transit from Penn to Newark Penn more or less desirable than taking the Path from WTC? Anyone else do this? I see a lot of horror stories about the NJ Transit rails but also wondering if it is as bad on a reverse commute.
PATH going out in the morning should be no problem, except traversing the crowd in the Oculus. For NJ Transit, you've got 4-5 trains per hour, so no real issues there. Both have problems more than occasionally; I'd make my choice based on other factors.
I'll second the opinion to live in midtown or close to Penn Station. WTC isn't bad by any means but it feels too far from everything. Unless the goal is to live somewhere less hectic like Battery Park then there are plenty of apartments in Chelsea or midtown west, I'd shop around based on the neighborhood you like rather than the commute IMO.
Since the PATH train ultimately connects to 33rd an avenue away from Penn Station then living somewhere around there makes it an easy commute, it's easy to switch from the 33rd St PATH train to Newark train at either JSQ or Grove.
Im starting the new job next Monday. Im commuting from Williamsburg in the meantime (L to either Path or ACE+NJ Transit) so will probably test each out and see which is preferable.
My big concern is people Ive talked to who take the PATH seem to be at least pretty happy, whereas I don't know many who take NJ Transit and am constantly reading in the news how bad its been the last year or two.
Im starting the new job next Monday. Im commuting from Williamsburg in the meantime (L to either Path or ACE+NJ Transit) so will probably test each out and see which is preferable.
My big concern is people Ive talked to who take the PATH seem to be at least pretty happy, whereas I don't know many who take NJ Transit and am constantly reading in the news how bad its been the last year or two.
There was a Amtrack derailing that really hampered a lot of NJTransit lines. It's hard to say. PATH is a subway while NJTransit is commuter rail. Because of that, NJTransit is possibly more comfortable than the PATH (basically, if you can get a seat, it's more pleasant than any subway ride), though the PATH has newer and better looking and feeling trains [to me].
I still think though that because of the reverse commute, your experience may be a lot different than others just due to the nature of rush hour. I remember taking the J train out to Jamaica at 8a and I forgot my Priority Pass for the lounge at JFK. I was going to get out at Marcy but saw the mass of people waiting for the train on the other side. I decided not to bother haha! Reverse commuting is a blessing in disguise.
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