Beacon (Metro-North station)

Beacon is a Metro-North Railroad station that serves the residents of Beacon, New York, via the Hudson Line. Trains leave for New York City every hour during off peak hours, and about every 15–25 minutes during rush hour. It is 59 miles (95 km) from Grand Central Terminal and travel time to Grand Central Terminal vary depending on run, ranging from 1 hour and 10 minutes (super-express runs) to 1 hour and 15–18 minutes (trains making all local stops north of Croton-Harmon and 1 hour and 25–30 minutes (trains making all local stops north of Croton-Harmon and some lower Hudson stops, such as Ossining, Tarrytown, Yonkers, Marble Hill).

It is a wheelchair accessible station, featuring wheelchair ramps, an elevator to the train platform, and a high-level island platform which is level with the doors on the train (for many years, most Upper Hudson Line stations had platforms that were lower than the train doors). It also boasts a small newsstand on the platform itself, open daily. It is not fully ADA accessible.

Paid parking is provided. There are spaces that require permits and others which can be paid for on a daily basis. Parking is free on weekends and holidays.

Recent^[update] renovations by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reflect the station's increasing traffic and importance as a destination. The Dia:Beacon art museum, a short walk from the station, has drawn regular visitors from the city since its 2003 opening to see its collection of large installations which could not be shown in the more limited spaces available in Manhattan.^[1] Many signs in and around the station point the way. The heavy Dia traffic on weekends is complemented by visitors to prisoners at Fishkill or Downstate correctional facilities, who take many of the taxis available from the station to the prisons just outside of town. Inmates being released are sometimes dropped off here as well to catch trains back to the city.

Like many others on the Hudson Line, the station is also right on the Hudson River. On October 17, 2005, ferry service to the station from Newburgh resumed after 42 years in which the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge had sufficed to bring people across the river. This has allowed the MTA to essentially increase the available parking for the station with little new construction due to the availability of land on the Newburgh waterfront. Fare is $1.25 per person each way; unlike Beacon, parking in Newburgh is free.

The station complex also has long housed an upper Hudson Line station of the MTA Police. Unruly passengers are often put off here to be taken into custody.

Platform and track configuration

This station has two high-level platforms each six cars long. The western one is an island platform adjacent to Tracks 1 and 2 and generally used by southbound or inbound or Manhattan-bound trains. The eastern one is a side platform adjacent to Track 3 and generally used by northbound or outbound trains.

The Hudson Line has three tracks at this location.

References

1. ^ Margolies, Jane (2008-10-12). "Art and Calm Just Up the Hudson". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/travel/12HourFrom.html. Retrieved 2008-10-15. 

External links

• Metro-North Railroad - Beacon
• List of upcoming train departure times and track assignments from MTA
• Beacon Station Parking