Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 549; Flight Crew Type 12000
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Airport; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
We were cleared to taxi toward the ramp on Taxiway RB and instructed to contact ramp at A. Upon making contact with ramp control we were told to enter at RA and use the outer lane to the gate. RA (west of RB) was NOTAMed closed along with all other taxiways and taxi lanes west of RB and south of the airline ramp. Ramp Controller kept referring to RA as the 'Old Lindy Bypass.' There was no way to turn left (barricades) and no indication where ramp actually wanted us to go. We crept forward looking for some clue. Ramp said we were entering at RB and it was ok because there was no outbound traffic. We were instructed to join the inner line to [the] gate and then transition to the outer line to our gate. None of the charts in our EFB matched the actual configuration on the ground. Apparently EWR commissioned a 'new' RA to the right (east) of RB. Later we did find a NOTAM which alluded to that fact. This 'new' RA was not marked by airport signage. Neither pilot is a frequent visitor at EWR and we had no idea what the 'Old Lindy Bypass' was. We were completely confused by the fact that the taxi charts; actual airport configuration and signage; and Ramp Controller lingo did not match. We carefully tried to follow the instructions as best we could and did safely arrive at the gate without any aircraft conflicts. The EFB charts need to be updated to reflect the new airport configuration right away. The 'new' RA needs to be marked by airport signage. There needs to be an RA sign indicating where that taxi lane is. Also; it would be great if they could come up with a new name for that new taxi lane so it does not share a name with a taxi lane that is located hundreds of yards away and is NOTAMed closed. The Ramp Controllers need to stop using non-standard local lingo. Unless a pilot has spent significant time at EWR over the years they have no idea where the 'Old Lindy Bypass' is. If it's not on a chart; or at the very least discussed on the [company paperwork]; we have no idea what they're talking about.
We were cleared to ramp on Taxiway RB. We contacted ramp approaching A. Ramp said to enter RA. We did not see a sign or markings for RA. We were not instructed on how to reach RA. They said 'Lindy bypass' at one point which I don't see charted. There were three NOTAMs for Taxiway RA. Centerline lighting out; that part of Lindy parking was now RA; and that RA was decommissioned. Nothing on 10-9; 10-9B; or other airport pages matched the current ramp configuration. There was a lot of construction; barricades and parked aircraft. We stayed on RB inadvertently; which I don't think ramp wanted; but there was no conflict. There were now inner; outer; and heavy taxi lines. Ramp said to use inner taxi line; transition to outer at [the] Gate. This put us on the inner for a very short time with an immediate turn back to outer with no other aircraft around. A fuel truck was blocking outer taxi lane but it moved and we taxied to gate. Update the diagrams to match what is going on. Don't have seemingly conflicting NOTAMs. Better signage. Better instructions from Ramp (turn right on A; left on RA). They moved RA to the other side of where it was and made it out of order with RB; RC; etc. I think it's better to pick another letter for the taxiway. [Company paperwork] notes are outdated and paint an inaccurate picture of operations on the ramp.
Air carrier flight crew reported a taxiway incursion at EWR airport. Inaccurate charting; poor markings; and ATC phraseology were cited as contributing factors.