Meeting an adolescent on a train at Penn Station
just be aware that they possibly won't tell you track arrivals so it may turn out to be a little more complicated than it seems. The first time I did this with my nephew around that age on LIRR, I was unable to meet him on the platform as planned. Luckily, he had traveled that route many times accompanied so I was able to text him to walk up the stairs and meet me in front of the MCdonalds where I had met him with his mother or grandmotherdozens of times over the years.
NJ Transit.
Kid has a cell phone, the meeting adult doesn't. Oy!
So stupid they can't give arriving track numbers.
Meeting adult needs to borrow a phone. Without that, I'd never try to meet a young teen in a place like Penn Station unless teen knows it very, very well
It can take up to 15 minutes for the arriving passengers to get upstairs at Penn. Meeting on the platform can involve waiting that out. Definitely should meet in the concourse.
Has teen ever been to Penn? We find that meeting at the Krispy Kreme always works. Everyone can find it, especially kids.
If the kid is does not know Penn Station I would say it was worth paying a high school kid's R/T fare plus $20 to safely escort him to meeting spot.
If the NY adult has no phone, and depending on timing of the trip, I'd recommend sending the child with another dependable commutingadult who happens to be heading into Penn at the same time. I only have small kids so maybe I'm overreacting (overprotective?). But I'd find more peace of mind that way.
I allowed my 14 year old to travel alone to meet someone outside of Penn but it was after we did 2 or 3 "dry run" trips with me shadowing her.
If meeting adult has no phone:
Meet at a spot - Krispy Kreme, etc..
Make sure kid's cell is fully charged.
Make sure kid has extra $ and a return tix.
At 12 I probably wouldn't let me kid do it. At 14 I would.
A common meeting spot is under the large arrival/departure board in the large concourse area on the west side of the building, the 8th Avenue side. There are many police officers in the station who can give direction, but the kid will need to depart the train and go upstairs to the main concourse, and make sure s/he is on the west side of the building near 8th Ave.
I would have no problem doing this with a 12-14YO. Penn Station can be confusing but it is quite safe. Sending the young person a photo of the meeting spot (see above) is a good idea. He can ask a conductor for directions, and you can make the suggestion that if he feels lost to find somebody in a uniform and ask for directions.
Because there are many departure boards throughout the station, though, I think I'd choose the rotunda as a meeting place. It's in a central, open area, very distinctive-looking, and everybody knows where it is.
I'm pretty certain there is only one information desk. I used to meet visitors to the city there often and it worked well.
If kid is on the front of the train, that takes him/her to the 7th Ave. (newer, prettier, more tan colored) concourse. In front of Duane Reade, on the main concourse, is a good meeting place, as it's across from the place where the cops are usually standing. The 8th Ave. side is a bit more confusing. I had the long talk about what's east, what's west, in Penn (and life! she thought NYC was west of Maplewood at first) on the dry run with my 14 yo. Haven't let her do it by herself yet.
If one person meeting up doesn't have a phone, they you do it the way we did when I was a kid...have a contact number that both can call if they have trouble finding each other. It is harder to find a pay phone than it used to be, but I'm sure that the station still has a few.
(and I'd say that what is needed depends on the individual 12-14 year old)
If traveling off-peak hours, you might (stress might) find a nice conductor on the train. Talk to him/her before you board the train, explain the circumstances, and see if they'll show the kid how to get upstairs. It COULD happen! Or call NJT in advance and ask them if they have any program in place to help out. Good luck!
If designating a location to meet, I urge you to choose a landmark like the departures board and not a store/business. Penn Station is huge and there are many duplicate businesses
There is only one Krispy Kreme and my kid could ALWAYS find it. But then, sweets are his thing..
I work above Penn, was just down there for lunch, and saw the usual stream of confused adults milling around looking for the right exit. I did not see any pay phones.
I would not send a 12-14yo who is unfamiliar with Penn in on their own if it could possibly be avoided. Too many lobbies, too many levels.
If there is no other option, meeting adult should have a phone and the kid should call as the train comes in, ID the track, and stay on the phone on their way up so that they can find each other more swiftly. Because I guarantee that will be the train that comes in on an unexpected track, with escalators closed for maintenance, and suddenly you're under the LIRR board wondering where the meeting adult could be.
I'd meet at Krispy Kreme. There's only one and there are many departure boards. And even if you give a very accurate description and even a photo it would still be easy to screw up. There's only one Krispy Kreme.
Not that you don't already have enough replies to consider....but, I would def opt for the front of the train and the 7th Ave NJT waiting Area....the rear, 8th ave end of the train stairs can lead up to the mezzanine section of penn which is claustrophobic and confusing especially if said tween is not good at asking people for directions.
And I hope you will not be trying to meet them during the evening rush home 430-7PM when Penn gets to looking like this regardless of where you are situated.
This is the option I would suggest and works with your idea about using the first car of the train. Agbaraganza's photos should help as visuals for both parties. IF, for some reason the train comes in on one of those random days where the track isn't on of the normal ones for NJ Transit the kid should seek help to find the NJ Transit 7th Ave waiting area. The person meeting the child should stay in the meeting area.
agbarganza said:
Not that you don't already have enough replies to consider....but, I would def opt for the front of the train and the 7th Ave NJT waiting Area....the rear, 8th ave end of the train stairs can lead up to the mezzanine section of penn which is claustrophobic and confusing especially if said tween is not good at asking people for directions.
A
In theory . . . unless your train arrives on a double-digit track and you wind up in the middle of the construction in a LIRR hallway. I'd avoid.
agbarganza said:
Not that you don't already have enough replies to consider....but, I would def opt for the front of the train and the 7th Ave NJT waiting Area....the rear, 8th ave end of the train stairs can lead up to the mezzanine section of penn which is claustrophobic and confusing especially if said tween is not good at asking people for directions.
OK, I've done this. You CAN find out the track. There is a little office. I forget what it's called. But when you get there, go to the info desk and ask about that little office. It's on the LIRR level. Go in there and ask them when they will know which track the 4:42 from Maplewood (or whatever) will be arriving on. They will probably say that they will know five minutes in advance. Hang out just outside the office. Then 7 minutes in advance, go back in and ask. Then run down to the platform.
Good to know!
shoshannah said:
OK, I've done this. You CAN find out the track. There is a little office. I forget what it's called. But when you get there, go to the info desk and ask about that little office. It's on the LIRR level. Go in there and ask them when they will know which track the 4:42 from Maplewood (or whatever) will be arriving on. They will probably say that they will know five minutes in advance. Hang out just outside the office. Then 7 minutes in advance, go back in and ask. Then run down to the platform.
shoshannah said:
OK, I've done this. You CAN find out the track. There is a little office. I forget what it's called. But when you get there, go to the info desk and ask about that little office. It's on the LIRR level. Go in there and ask them when they will know which track the 4:42 from Maplewood (or whatever) will be arriving on. They will probably say that they will know five minutes in advance. Hang out just outside the office. Then 7 minutes in advance, go back in and ask. Then run down to the platform.
You don't need the little office. The two desks at the AMTRAK waiting areas on the 8th avenue side will tell you what track the train is coming into. Sometimes 10 minutes in advance. I used them all the time leaving Penn at night so I could avoid the mad rush down the stairs/stopped escalators.
Sponsored Business
Promote your business here - Businesses get highlighted throughout the site and you can add a deal.
Say someone was putting their kid (12-14 yo) on a train from here to be met by an adult at Penn Station, NYC, what's the best way to coordinate it?
I'm thinking making sure they are in the a designated car of the train (probably the front car) and are met on the platform by that car at Penn.
They do tell you the arrival track, I assume?