In reality, Wappinger's Falls, Newburgh and Hyde Park are not likely big traffic generators for someone going to Chicago
But Turning Stone and the Adirondacks are? Please, lets be serious.
Casinos have never proven to be traffic generators for Amtrak. Nor have the Adirondacks -- as a car is needed to partake in the sites and activities of this wonderful region. And Rome is an utterly depressed city, I don't care how many people might still be living there, totally unlike the vibrant Mid-Hudson Valley.
Poughkeepsie, on the other hand, lies smack in the middle of the Mid-Hudson Valley, a heavily populated area with people who are far more inclined to consider rail as an option for long distance travel due to their daily relationship with the MetroNorth.
In addition, the Poughkeepsie area is home to several important colleges, including the Culinary Institute of America, Vassar, Marist, and SUNY New Paltz -- not to mention West Point, which is just south of Newburgh.
As LI Loco points out, Rhinecliff is conveniently located at the foot of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Bard College is nearby. And, again, the residents of Dutchess county have a close affinity with Amtrak.
As for Hudson, it lies at the foot of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. Columbia County also has a close affinity with Amtrak.
All I can say is that each of these stations served as important stops for the Lake Shore Limited for years and years. The only reason that Amtrak has ever offered for discontinuing these stops was to improve timekeeping, and ironically, since these stops were discontinued, the Lake Shore Limited's time keeping has never been worse since.
So what gives? The quality of Amtrak service to the Mid-Hudson Valley. That's it. Plain and simple. I urge anyone to compare today's Lake Shore Limited with the Lake Shore Limited of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today's train is truly pathetic.
There is no doubt in my mind that Hudson Valley passengers has simply given up on the Lake Shore Limited. I urge anyone to go to Albany sometime and check out how many connecting passengers they can find. Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Poughkeepsie, collectively, used to be good for at least 20-40 long-haul passengers a day in each direction. Not anymore.