About Bill Taylor Expertise I can answer questions about admissions to West Point; about the history of West Point; about how to travel to West Point, where to eat, where to stay, etc.; and about West Point`s alumni organization, the West Point Association of Graduates.
Experience I am a 1970 Graduate of West Point. I served six years on active duty and another 8 years in the active reserve. I have been actively involved as a Field Admissions Representative for over 15 years and have participated on my Congressman's Academy Selection Panel for over 20 years. I am actively involved in West Point Alumni affairs, serving in roles both with the West Point Association of Graduates and the local alumni chapter in Annapolis, MD. I also have two sons who graduated from West Point in 1995 and 2001. Both are veterans of the Iraq war and continue to serve on Active Duty in the Army.
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.
