&gt; <i>1. There is a regular train from EWR right into Penn Station</i><p>There is, but it runs relatively infrequently and you have to switch to the monorail, which is only faster than walking because it has a right of way.<p>&gt; <i>3. Although I&#x27;ve taken it, the Acela all the way from Boston to DC starts to not make sense vs. flying--and tends to cost more as well.</i><p>Sure. I cheat by being the smug git in the middle.<p>But I&#x27;d still rather take the train, honestly, from Boston to DC. I hate flying with a radiant intensity that could launch a thousand astronomy PhDs.