Schenectady

The Amtrak station off Erie Boulevard in Schenectady closed for the final time June 24 as Amtrak and the state Department of Transportation prepare for its demolition and eventual replacement.

Amtrak passengers seeking to travel from Schenectady should book their tickets online or by phone.

A temporary shelter has been erected at the parking lot north of the station, apparently to provide some protection from the elements for waiting passengers. Amtrak, in an advisory posted online, said passengers should be dropped off and picked up at the station because parking is limited. It also advised that passengers not arrive more than 30 minutes before the train's departure because there is no waiting room.

The demolition contract was awarded this spring to Latham-based Bette & Cring, which bid $5.4 million to remove the station, perform platform concrete work and install new culverts.

The state DOT plans to seek bids in the autumn for construction of the new station.