| Appalachian Trail | |||||||||||
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Hikers awaiting southbound train |
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| Station statistics | |||||||||||
| Address | Route 22, Pawling, NY | ||||||||||
| Lines | |||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 1 | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1991 | ||||||||||
| Fare zone | 8 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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The Appalachian Trail Metro-North Railroad station serves campers and hikers destined for the Appalachian Trail in Dutchess County, New York via the Harlem Line. Trains stop at Appalachian Trail on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only. It is the only train station along the 2,175 mile length of the trail. It was built by Metro-North Railroad in 1991 for the cost of $10,000.[1] Its creation was the suggestion of George Zoebelein, who was an avid hiker and a veteran of the NY/NJ Trail Conference as well as both the NY/NJ Appalachian Trail Conferences, and also served as a member of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council (MNRCC) of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee (PCAC) to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It is one of three limited service stops operated by Metro-North primarily for hikers – the other two being Breakneck Ridge and Manitou on the Hudson Line.
It is 65.9 miles (106 km) from Grand Central Terminal and travel time to Grand Central is approximately one hour, 52 minutes.
There are no transportation connections via bus or taxi, but NY 22/NY 55 is only steps away from the station.
The trail itself crosses the track just south of the station. In the northbound direction, it leads immediately to a small grassy parking area along Route 22 with space for a few cars, then follows the highway to paved turnouts with more space a few hundred feet north along either side of the highway, just north of where it leaves the road and starts climbing toward Hammersly Ridge and the Pawling Nature Preserve. South of the station the trail crosses a swampy area and then climbs a smaller ridge.
This station is the first/last station in the Zone 8 Metro-North fare zone.
The station has a low-level wooden side platform to the east of the track, long enough for one door of one car to receive and discharge passengers. The platform has no shelter, but a bulletin board for posting the current train schedule, as well as information for hikers. The Harlem Line has one track at this location.