Rhinecliff-Kingston (Amtrak station)

Infobox Station
name=Rhinecliff-Kingston
type=Amtrak station

---

image_size=300
image_caption=View looking south down platforms from road overpass to former ferry landing.
address=Hutton and Charles Streets
Rhinecliff, NY 12574
line=rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Adirondackrail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Servicerail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Ethan Allenrail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Lake Shore Limitedrail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Maple Leaf
other=
platform=
passengers=160,929
pass_year=2007
pass_percent=3
opened=
rebuilt=
ADA=
code=RHI
owned=
zone=
services=s-start

The Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak station, commonly and formerly known as simply Rhinecliff, serves northern Dutchess County, New York (in the town of Rhinebeck and the nearby area of Kingston, New York across the Hudson River. The station has one low-level island platform that serves two tracks. There is also an unused second platform, connected to the first via an overpass.

Rhinecliff station is somewhat popular with owners of weekend homes in the area as well as some commuters who prefer Amtrak's service to that of Metro-North's out of Poughkeepsie. These riders, along with students and others going to and from nearby Bard College, made Rhinecliff the 46th-busiest Amtrak station in 2004 with 86,466 boardings. [ [http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2005/html/appendix_b/html/table_01_08.html TABLE 1-8 Top 50 Amtrak Stations by Number of Boardings: Fiscal Year 2004] , Bureau of Transportation Statistics, accessed November 8, 2006] Occasional suggestions to bring Metro-North service to Rhinecliff have been stalled by community opposition and track ownership issues.

Though the station's name implies an easy connection to Kingston and vicinity, only taxicabs serve the station from Kingston. However, it is the closest station to the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. The next-closest Hudson River crossings are in Hudson, about 30 minutes north; and Poughkeepsie, about the same distance to the south.The station building was built by the New York Central Railroad in the early 20th century in the Mission-Spanish Revival style similar to the next station down the line at Hyde Park. Like much of the hamlet of Rhinecliff, it is a contributing property to the Hudson River Historic District.

Amtrak service

All trains heading southbound from Rhinecliff-Kingston terminate at Penn Station in New York City, while all northbound trains stop at Hudson and Albany-Rensselaer before diverting.
*Adirondack to Montreal
*Empire Service to Poughkeepsie, Westchester County (Croton-on-Hudson/Yonkers) and New York or Schenectady, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls
*Ethan Allen Express to Rutland or New York
*Lake Shore Limited from Chicago to New York (southbound service only)
*Maple Leaf to Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and Toronto or New York

Notable places nearby

*Trolley Museum of New York
*Empire State Railway Museum
*Catskill Mountain Railroad

References

External links

* [http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/rhinecliff.htm Kingston-Rhinecliff Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)]