June 3, 2025
Rhinecliff Temporary Station Observations and Images
What's Happening at Rhinecliff Station
BY Gary Prophet | ESPA President
The following pictures were taken by me on May 28, 2025, I stopped by at about 11:30am, which was on a Wednesday. I will be writing more about the Rhinecliff for the next ESPA Express newsletter.
Note that as I drive here through the entire parking lot, there was not one parking space. I then went to the temporary station, as a couple people were taking to the station agent. He seemed very frustrated, as everyone was complaining about the parking.
During the five minutes that I was in the station, he told three people to drive to Poughkeepsie: "Do not even think of parking on the streets, you will be towed."
And to the person who was taking Train 281, he was told to drive to Albany and: "You better be quick".
I then asked the station agent about paid parking and he told me he knew nothing about parking, heard a rumor that it would start June 1st, but he does not know, as Amtrak is not doing it, some other company is handing it.
I then asked when the parking lot is full, asking an innocent question, as he certainly seemed upset over everyone yelling at him over no parking and the town towing people's cars. He told me that the lot is filled by 9am Mon-Thur and usually some random spots free up during the late afternoon, but sometimes no spots until after 7pm.
He then said: "Basically, the parking lot serves just three trains, the first two in the morning and arrive at least 20 minutes before that 2nd train departs, and the last train in the evening. Any other time, the parking lot is useless for passengers arriving to take the train. Friday, sometimes it is full in the mid-morning, but opens up earlier in the afternoon. On weekends, there are lots of parking spaces.”
I then asked how he felt paid parking would affect things and he said that it may eliminate the people who leave their cars here to travel to Florida for weeks and may discourage the once-a-week passenger who goes to NYC on Monday and returns on Friday. He was not sure, but thought that paid parking may help the situation by having the parking spots turn over more often.
As I walked out, someone ran in and pleaded with me to have her take my parking spot. I then pointed to my car which was blocking the cars in the handicapped area and I said that I was only here a few minutes and don't have a real parking spot. She looked so sad.
This south part of the parking lot and only entrance to the north lot. The pot holes are literally several inches deep. The only entrance to all of the north and south parking lot is just ahead to the left, so all vehicles must use this area to access parking. Amtrak is going to charge for parking here?
Parking lot has no striped lines, lots of pot holes and low spots create huge puddles that can take 3 to 5 days to evaporate.
Looking north. Note that the vehicle on the right (along wall), the last vehicle is not in a parking spot, but is partially blocking the only access to the north side of the parking lot. In years past, this was prohibited and any such vehicle was immediately towed, since a vehicle parks there, it prevents an ambulance or a fire truck from accessing the north parking lot.
This is the sign as one enters. Note, it is May 28 and paid parking it to start June 1, but no sign exists stating anything about having to pay for parking. This sign is a bit blurry from my Cell Phone, but says that no more parking along the rock wall past the former Rhinecliff Hotel, as there is then no space for people parked on the other (track side, Hudson River) side to back out of their spaces. Below, the only steps from parking lot to overhead walkway to get to the tracks.
The entrance to Rhinecliff Station. The temporary station is behind me as I take this picture. Not exactly the most attractive sign to indicated that the entrance is closed and has been closed for quite some time. The temporary station is fine, actually it is in better condition, more functional, nicer bathrooms, and more ADA accessible than the actual Rhinecliff station has been for any part of the past 30 years.
People will want to know about the parking cost. I will be on the Adirondack on Friday, so I will attempt to see whether signs have been posted about paying for parking when I am on the train, although that may be difficult from the train, but I could ask someone who boards at Rhinecliff. I’ll then post to our ESPA Facebook page.
Gary Prophet, ESPA President
UPDATE
Starting June 1st, 2025, parking at the Rhinecliff Amtrak station will no longer be free. The new rates will be $5 for the first 16 hours, $10 for 16-24 hours, and a monthly pass can be purchased for $60. Amtrak will be implementing a browser-based parking system accessed via QR codes posted in the parking area.