Forest Glen Posted January 6, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 6, 2009 On February 6 the ACES express train debuts. There's no way I'm paying $50 for a one way trip. However, I thought of a way to photograph the train. I'll take a coach bus from NY to Atlantic City, walk to the train station, take pics, play the slot machines, and then head back to NY. I'm trying to decide which bus to take. Each of the three (NJ Transit, Greyhound, Academy) have pros and cons. What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken S. Posted January 6, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 6, 2009 Since you're planning on playing a bit, the 319 is out. Academy, Greyhound, and the other carriers will get you some cashback at the casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
553 Bridgeton Posted January 6, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 6, 2009 Wirelessly posted (TELECA-/2.0 (BREW 3.1.5; U; EN-US; SAMSUNG; SPH-M800; Teleca/Q05A/INT) MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1) The downside to the 319 is the fare from ny is $51. Academy parkway exp service is the 319 so i think the fare is the same. the 319 makes a stop in toms river. take a greyhound to ballys i think you get like $20 back. beware greyhound gets very crowded to atlantic city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinnyBrooklyn Posted January 6, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 6, 2009 Take the greyhound so you get back money it will only cost you like $10 when all is said and done. On your way back go to the bus station to get the bus as it usually leaves from there every half hour on the hour. You have a much better chance getting a seat on the bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTbuscleaner55 Posted January 6, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 6, 2009 Hmm I can get on for free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted January 6, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 6, 2009 I usually i am driving or someone else is driving to visit AC, so not sure on that one:(. I guess go with Greyhound as the others suggested. :cool: Next time i visit AC maybe in spring around the Easter Holiday maybe i take the bus myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerrapinStation Posted January 7, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 7, 2009 On February 6 the ACES express train debuts. There's no way I'm paying $50 for a one way trip. However, I thought of a way to photograph the train. I'll take a coach bus from NY to Atlantic City, walk to the train station, take pics, play the slot machines, and then head back to NY. I'm trying to decide which bus to take. Each of the three (NJ Transit, Greyhound, Academy) have pros and cons. What do you think? Why do you have to photograph it in AC? You could photograph it anywhere along its route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamousNYLover Posted January 7, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 7, 2009 On February 6 the ACES express train debuts. There's no way I'm paying $50 for a one way trip. However, I thought of a way to photograph the train. I'll take a coach bus from NY to Atlantic City, walk to the train station, take pics, play the slot machines, and then head back to NY. I'm trying to decide which bus to take. Each of the three (NJ Transit, Greyhound, Academy) have pros and cons. What do you think? How about taking NJ Transit train to Perth Amboy for Carefree Bus Tour to Atlantic City. 252 Smith St, Perth Amboy is closest to Perth Amboy Station. http://www.carefreebus.com/Atlantic_City_Daily_Run.html North Jersey Coast Line will depart NY Penn Station at 8:39, arrives Perth Amboy Station at 9:28. $9.25 one way ADULT and off-peak round trip Adult $15.75 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Glen Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted January 7, 2009 After thinking about it for two days, I decided not to do it. It doesn't make sense to go all the way to Atlantic City just to take a dozen ACES pics. I read the casino reviews and most of them were negative. Plus, in the middle of winter the Boardwalk will be empty. I'll let someone else be a fool and go to Atlantic City. I'll take the ACES pics at Penn Station and Newark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted January 8, 2009 Share #10 Posted January 8, 2009 After thinking about it for two days, I decided not to do it. It doesn't make sense to go all the way to Atlantic City just to take a dozen ACES pics. I read the casino reviews and most of them were negative. Plus, in the middle of winter the Boardwalk will be empty. I'll let someone else be a fool and go to Atlantic City. I'll take the ACES pics at Penn Station and Newark. Have you been to AC before Forest Glen? If not go in the summer you can hang out at the tons of sportsbars and small diners along the boardwalk if you dont want to gamble at the casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w8Hou Posted February 4, 2009 Share #11 Posted February 4, 2009 The cheapest way to go if you book online is megabus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ML111 Posted February 19, 2009 Share #12 Posted February 19, 2009 I'll put my two sense in because of the fact that I have traveled on each one of the services, and that casino bus transportation in Atlantic City is my expertise. Here's the why and the how for all three services: NJT's #319 EXPRESS: This service out of the Port Authority via Toms River to AC is a commuter run more than anything, with the service to AC acting as a hub for passengers wishing to connect to other services in the Atlantic County/South Jersey coastal region, particularly during the summer months when demand to places such as Wildwood, Ocean City and Cape May are at its peak. Also, this service is used by frequent commuters and origin-based travelers out of the AC area - if you are going south from NY, and are not 1. continuing on past AC or 2. a frequent commuter, I would not take this service for the face that the other two provide you with a lower round trip fare, and the option of receiving a casino bonus - personally $51 RT is a bit much for an AC excursion. Greyhound-Lucky Streak Casino Express: If you are a hub traveler originating from the Port Authority and value the fact that there is a bus within the next half hour to go down to AC for some slot playing, this is your ride. The reason I say this is because of the scale of Greyhound's AC operation, service leaves on most hours every 30 minutes,a nd during the peak travel periods of Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening and Sunday mid-morning, service is as frequent as every 15-minutes. The flip side of this is the return trip, as one if boarding at the casino location (especially the Bally's) may be subject to a long line, long wait and possibly being held for another section - same goes for the bus terminal. During peak periods, Greyhound can be a nightmare especially with dispatch at the AC terminal scrambling to get sections off of the Pleasantville board to protect the secions off the schedules. Right now though, Greyhound is offering for the rest of the month a $30 RT fare ($5 less than the regular RT) for the morning and afternoon runs to the Tropicana. Academy (M25 Megabus) I will admit that I am biased to Academy for the reason that I live right down the block from their Upper East Side pick-up location for the AC service (85th & 3rd), which by the way has and will always be a greater feeder for the main line Port Authority service because of the demand from residents in both Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. All that aside now, here's the 411 on Academy, their biggest sale is two things: 1. avoiding the mess and stress with trying to get on a GLI section, and 2. convenience. Academy's schedule is more of a traditional line-run casino service without the 6-hour stay the casinos assign to you. Their route is strategic and helps supplement the fact that Academy only has about a 35-40% share of the market of passengers going to AC (GLI has about a 55-60% on the other hand). The stop locations on the Upper East Side (85/3), Upper West Side (92/Bway) and Cheesequake P/R on the GSP on most trips help to amke the trip profitable. Over the past few months, because of the economic downturn, they have eliminated a few runs, most notably, the 2 evening sections returning to NY that originated from AC (Pomona terminal). In terms of the whole Megabus deal, Megabus acts as an agent for the Academy service, so you can buy a ticket per se for $1 or $10 or $20 for what usually is a $35 ride RT. Like I said, less crowds, less hassels and on a good run, they make 2hr 15 min even with the Cheesequake stop. Hope this helped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted February 19, 2009 Share #13 Posted February 19, 2009 The cheapest way to go if you book online is megabus. They can only go highway speeds. The trains go 80-100 mph depending on the type of train and how it is configured. It takes me 8 minutes to get from levittown to trenton, then about 1 hour to get to newark. After that i take PATH. Even with a full trip from NYP to PHL it's faster AND cheaper. It's all down to preference. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Glen Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted February 20, 2009 It's a moot point. I cancelled the trip after I became inundated with bills. I still took several ACES pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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