Just Take the Train: A Student Perspective on Metro-North and Amtrak
When it's not dark out, the views from the train help pass the time. Photo via Owen Whelan '27
Waking up an hour later than I was supposed to, I quickly realized the bus that was going to take me to a Broadway show that day was long gone. I called a friend to complain, and they offered an idea: just take the train.
With no better options, I got to the train station, and after two hours, I was at Grand Central and en route to the show on foot with an hour to spare before the show. Without the Metro-North line running from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central, I would’ve missed out on the experience.
Poughkeepsie’s train station serves Metro-North lines that run almost all day, with stations dotted across the Hudson Valley and Amtrak stations that go all over the country. The Marist website itself even directs prospective students to see how they can get to campus utilizing the transit system.
It’s hard to see either Amtrak or Metro-North on the news for anything but catastrophes despite their ongoing projects to add safety to the lines or improve accessibility for riders. Even despite the concern of trains being delayed, Metro-North reported that 94% of its trains arrived on time in 2022. Not only do both the MTA and Amtrak have apps that display those delays, but those same apps are free to use to purchase and view tickets.
If you purchase a ticket before boarding, one-way MTA prices tend to hover around the low-to-high teens, in some cases breaching $20, for adults traveling off-peak. Amtrak is more expensive but offers coach and business tier options, ideal for longer rides which may give guests the option to purchase full sit-down meals.
Despite weekend, holiday, and evening trips having a reduced “off-peak” fare, college students do not receive any sort of discount or reduced rate from the MTA. While not initially expensive, costs for the train can add up for students looking to see their family every so often. For a student who lives in New York City, a weekend round trip home on the train would cost $40, not including costs for a taxi or Uber.
Even with some baggage, the train still serves as an invaluable transportation method for students. Its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits are worth keeping in mind when deciding between car and metro for your next trip -- whether for a fun trip to the city, heading home for a break, or just exploring somewhere new.