Expert: Bill Taylor - 9/20/2009

Question
Hello,

I am a student at Monmouth University and my boyfriend is on the prep team. He has a few games at West Point coming up, and I am wondering how to get there by train. I do not have a car so this is probably my only way to get to West Point. I am also from California, so I do not know my way around here very well at all! Thank you for taking the time to read my question and I hope you can help me out.

Answer
Hi, Jennifer, it's good to hear from you.  Thanks for your interest in West Point.

I'm afraid the public transportation options to West Point aren't all that great.  While trains run on both sides of the Hudson River, there are only freight trains on the west bank (where West Point is) and passenger trains across the river on the east bank.  Presuming you can get from the Monmouth University area to NY City by train you will likely be delivered to Penn Station.  Now you need to get across town to Grand Central Station where the trains run up the east side of the Hudson.  There should be a shuttle bus between the stations, or there is always the subway or a taxi, or if the weather is nice it's about a 20 minute walk.  

From Grand Central Station you take the train to Cold Spring, NY.  From Cold Spring you take about a $20 taxi ride to West Point.  Once you get to West Point you will do a lot of walking, up and down hills, so wear good walking shoes, regardless.

Another alternative might be to take the train to Penn Station, then walk a block or so to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and catch a bus north.  They used to have bus service to West Point, but what with the heightened security the best you can probably do is get close to West Point, maybe to Highland Falls, from where you can either walk or catch a taxi again.

Good luck in meeting up with your boyfriend for his competition at West Point.

Best Regards,

Bill Taylor
Gambrills, MD