Take A Sneak Peek At Newark Airport's $3.5B New AirTrain (PHOTOS)

NEWARK, NJ — Construction on a new, $3.5 billion train shuttle system at Newark Airport is officially underway.

On Tuesday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground on a 2.5-mile AirTrain system at the busy international airport. It will replace the existing AirTrain, which opened in 1996 and isn’t able to keep up with Newark Airport’s “rapid growth,” officials said.

See artist renderings of the new system in the photo gallery above.

The new AirTrain is expected to begin operations in 2030. The current system will largely remain in operation until the new system opens, with some intermittent outages over a 28-month period that will exclude peak summer and holiday travel times.

“Newark Airport is the front door to our region, and modernizing the AirTrain system is part of our commitment to reimagining a world-class airport that is worthy of our state,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Here’s why a new AirTrain is needed, Port Authority officials said:

“The existing AirTrain is reaching the end of its useful life, requires extensive maintenance and repair, and cannot adequately meet upcoming demand. AirTrain ridership is forecasted to grow by 50 percent by 2040, exceeding the capacity of the existing system. The current system is unable to be expanded or upgraded to newer technology, and its route will hinder future airport growth, while the new system is designed to be expandable. When the current system opened, the airport served approximately 30 million passengers each year. In 2024, Newark Liberty welcomed nearly 50 million passengers.”

After it’s complete, the new AirTrain will be able to handle 50,000 passengers per day, up from the current system’s 33,000-passenger capacity. Its route will also allow for easier access to the new Terminal A, eliminating the current 15-minute walk between the AirTrain station and the terminal.

• See Related: Taking Transit To EWR Terminal A? There’s Something You Should Know

Port Authority officials said the new AirTrain’s route was designed with future airport growth in mind, including the plan to build a new Terminal B to replace the current 52-year-old passageway.

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The bi-state agency released the following details about the procurement process for the new AirTrain:

“In December 2023, the Port Authority selected Doppelmayr, a market leader in cable-propelled transport systems, for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the automated people mover system and its vehicles. In summer 2024, engineering firm Stantec was selected to design the new 70,000 square-foot maintenance and control facility (MCF) and the pedestrian connectors, and to decommission the existing AirTrain. In November 2024, the Port Authority selected the joint-venture firm of Tutor Perini/O&G to design and build a new 2.5-mile elevated rail structure, known as the guideway, and three new stations.”

Port Authority chair Kevin O’Toole said the groundbreaking event marked a milestone for the plan to build Newark Airport into a “world-class gateway.”

“This project is about more than just replacing outdated infrastructure,” O’Toole said. “It’s about building the capacity, reliability, and customer experience that millions of travelers will depend on for decades to come as we complete a top-to-bottom reimagining of Newark Liberty.”

• See Related: Major Upgrades For Newark Airport Unveiled (See What’s Coming)

In addition to Murphy, other elected officials who are supporting the project include U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez Jr. and LaMonica McIver, New Jersey Sens. Teresa Ruiz and Renee Burgess, New Jersey Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage.

Watch video footage from Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony below, or view it online here.

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