Train To Plane: 5 US Airports With Dedicated Railway Stations

When it comes to getting to the airport, we all have different preferred modes of transport. You may live in the city and are used to getting the bus or train, or you may live somewhere remote where travel by car is always your first choice.
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Today, there are many forms of transport that can get travelers to the airport. These can vary from bus to taxi or Uber, bike or car-share, monorail or commuter train. Using public transport to get to the airport can have its benefits, including saving on paying to park your car at the airport, being less restricted on capacity in your vehicle if you are traveling in a group, and even making it a stress-free start to the journey, given you won’t get stuck in a traffic jam.
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However, there are many airports that also have a dedicated train station. Whether a commuter train passes through with a convenient stop or has a dedicated line to ferry passengers to the airport, each on this list may vary. Simple Flying decided to look at five of the US’ most popular airports and how easy it is to access them by train. While this list is not exhaustive, we thought you might find the following five interesting:
1 Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Newark Liberty International Airport Station
Serving one of New York’s busiest airports, Newark Liberty International Airport Station, also known as Newark Airport Rail Station, is located on the Northeast Corridor and provides easy access to wider New Jersey and direct access to Newark Penn Station.
From the airport station, it is six minutes to Penn, where there are multiple connections across the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) system. You can connect to Lower Manhattan, Trenton, or Philadelphia from Newark Penn. Direct services from Newark Liberty International Airport are also available on the Northeast Regional service, which takes you directly to New York Penn Station in just 25 minutes. Direct train services from Newark Airport Rail Station are also available on Amtrak’s Keystone Service, which heads toward Harrisburg, Norfolk, Springfield, or New York City.
Available rail services at Newark Liberty International Airport Station are:
Keystone Service
Northeast Regional
Northeast Corridor Line
North Jersey Coast Line
AirTrain Newark (this is the monorail that connects Newark Liberty International Airport to the rail station).
2 Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Fort Lauderdale Airport station
A Tri-Rail commuter station in Diana Beach connects Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to the rails. Located west of FLL airport on Gulfstream Way, the station has two tracks and two platforms and is connected to the Greater Miami Tri-Rail commuter rail service, which links Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
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The line is owned and operated by the Florida Department of Transport. Those looking to catch a ride can do so from Fort Lauderdale station. The train line terminates at either Miami Airport or Mangonia Park. Costs to ride the Tri-Rail from Fort Lauderdale Airport Station is outlined below :
Fort Lauderdale $3.75
$3.75 Miami Central $3.75
$3.75 Boca Raton $5
$5 Mangonia Park $7.50
$7.50 West Palm Beach $7.50
To get between the airport and the rail station, there is a complementary shuttle that travels in either direction every 15 to 20 minutes. Pickup points from FLL are available outside all terminals.
Related The Story Of Fort Lauderdale’s Sloped Runway With one end of the runway at ground level, the opposite end reaches a six-story tall cliff.
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3 Ronald Raegan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station
The blue and yellow lines serve the Washington Metro system, connecting stations to greater Washington, DC. The station opened in 1977 and has two platforms with three tracks (only two are in regular service). This provides a pain-free way to get to downtown DC. The maximum fare within the Washington Metro system is $6 if paying by cash or less if you hold a SmarTrip card.
It is located across Smith Boulevard from the airport’s Terminal 2, and the station mezzanine is connected directly to level 2 of the terminal by two pedestrian bridges. A shuttle or walkway is available if you are arriving or departing from Terminal 1.
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Final destinations from the airport’s rail station include:
Yellow Line , traveling towards Mount Vernon Square or Huntington
, traveling towards Mount Vernon Square or Huntington Blue Line, which runs from Franconia–Springfield to Largo
Related Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: 5 Things You Might Not Know The airport’s location was home to one of the oldest remaining structures in Arlington.
4 San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport station
San Francisco International Airport station serves one of the busiest airports in the country. It is located next to Garage G at SFO airport and is a transfer point for the airport’s AirTrain. Direct regional services are available through the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, with both the Red and Yellow lines serving the airport station.
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Options for rail services:
Red Line to Millbrae or Richmond
to Millbrae or Richmond Yellow Line to Millbrae (only after 21:00; otherwise the airport station is the terminus) or Antioch via Pittsburgh / Bay Point
According to the Bay Area Rapid Transport Authority, over 4,000 travelers use the rail service daily.
Related How Can You Access San Francisco International Airport By Public Transport? The facility has a variety of transit links for those not traveling by car.
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5 Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal
Connecting Orlando International Airport to Greater Orlando, the Brightline inter-city service transports passengers toward West Palm Beach and Miami Central via the Florida East Coast Railway. Opened in 2017, the station has four tracks and five platforms. For those looking to use the service, the facility is around one mile from the main terminal and can be accessed by an automated people mover.
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Hourly services run from Orlando International Airport to South Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and West Palm Beach. According to Orlando Airport, the terminal will also be used to further develop the SunRail network. However, no date is set.
Costs to ride the service are outlined below:
Orlando International Intermodal Terminal to:
West Palm Beach $29
$29 Fort Lauderdale $29
$29 Miami $29
$29 Aventura $29
Related Why Does Orlando International Airport Have The IATA Code MCO? Orlando Internation Airport’s IATA code remained MCO in honor of Colonel Michael Norman Wright McCoy.
While everyone’s travel preferences differ, using the train is a convenient way to get to and from an airport, especially for tourists who can sit back, relax, and take in the cityscape as they are transported downtown. How many other US airports can you name with a train station?