Tracking changes at Rhinecliff
Public info session planned to discuss upgrades including new platform, parking and station improvements
Upgrades are on the way for those hopping on the train between Poughkeepsie and Hudson including much-needed parking lot improvements and a new high-elevation platform to enable a more accessible Hudson River railway.
Originally built in 1914, the building at the Rhinecliff station was closed in December 2022 “due to its deteriorating condition,” according to a January 2026 meeting with the New York State Department of Transportation, the US Department of Transportation and Amtrak. The station typically serves 24-26 weekday trains, and approximately 219,000 passengers last year.
In the spring of 2023, the Rhinecliff station was listed as part of the Empire Corridor campaign to boost rail transit by improving travel times and accessibility from Albany to New York City.
Plans for upgrades to the Rhinecliff station include a new pedestrian crossover bridge, interior and exterior improvements to the station building, parking lot remediation including drainage work to help with flooding, accessible bathroom upgrades, and a new 1,000-foot ADA-compliant high-level platform. The superstructure and decorative railings of the station’s southern pedestrian bridge “will be retained,” according to the report, but the bridge will be upgraded to comply with current code and accommodate the new platform height.
Construction was expected to begin in the spring of 2027, though funding for the project was paused in April of this year by the Trump administration “for further evaluation.” Funding was re-instated in June after a federal review and pressure from local officials.
To learn more about what’s coming down the line, head to the Rhinecliff Station, Platform, and Interlocking Project Open House on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at the Morton Memorial Library, located 82 Kelly Street in Rhinecliff, beginning at 5pm. Attendees can review the station’s updated design illustrations and speak directly with NYSDOT and Amtrak staff, who will be available throughout the session to answer questions and gather input from residents and commuters. Spanish language interpretation will also be available.
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