rrjs82

My D is a freshmen and we are looking at best/cheapest methods of getting home (to NY) when she needs to. I noticed that Amtrak out of Wilmington runs much more frequently, and has some trains with fares quite reasonable. Anyway, my question is about taking DART to Wilmington. I looked at website but was confused as to which bus line she would take. Does anyone know? Also, do any of the BART buses actually run through campus (she is in Russell), or does she have to go the AMTRAK train station area on campus? Any help would be appreciated.

llll

I don't know anything about the DART bus but you might want to check out GotoBus - Bus tickets, bus tours and vacation packages - Bus Travel Made Easy . I believe it is $35 round trip from Wilmington to NY.

llll

Also the university offers a bus from Wilmington to campus on Sunday evenings for $5. Sunday from Wilmington - Transportation Services - University of Delaware

the_mom

During the week the SEPTA train goes between Newark to Wilmington. DD has taken it several times without a problem.
SEPTA

rrjs82

Thanks for the responses. A couple of things though:

1)Regarding SEPTA - the problem is that we are looking for D to get a 1:33 AMTRAK train from Wilmington on Friday (she ends classes early), but there is no SEPTA train running from Newark to Wilmington that would get her there that time. It only runs early morning then resumes again at 4:46 pm.

2)Looked at the Goto Bus out of Wilmington and also at UD's shuttle back to campus on Sunday nights. Thing is the Goto Bus station is a 3 West 4th and Market St. The UD Shuttle picks up from the train station (Amtrak station) at 100 South French Street. Not knowing the Wilmington area, I looked it up on mapquest and the two seem to be a few blocks apart. Does anyone know how this area is? Is it safe for a girl to walk around there (and in the winter it would be dark).

If anyone else out there has any other suggestions of best ways to get from campus to NYC I would appreciate it. The easiest way is Amtrak from Newark, but it is so expensive, $93.00 one way. That's why we looked at Amtrak from Wilmington - fares can be found for $39.00, but we need to figure out BART to Wilmington. Thanks, its really tough not knowing the area!

samiamy

Wilmington is sketchy where the GotoBus is. D did it once, friends who picked her up in Wilmington were a bit unnerved, and the kids weren't country bumpkins either. D had a better run getting to Philly from Udel and then a train to NYC. Does she know anyone else from NY who would travel with her? Another idea is asking someone with a car and offering to pay them to drive her to Wilmington or Philly, gas money and extra would still be cheaper than the $93.

the_mom

You can save 10% on Amtrak if you have AAA. There is a ride board on the UD classifieds where she could post if she can't find a friend who could drive her to Wilmington.

NewHope33

OP - This should work. Shuttle bus departs Newark RR Station (on S. College Street) at 11:55 AM daily and arrives at Wilmington RR Station at 12:30 PM Monday - Friday.

DART First State - DART Bus Route 59