fact rail was removed from MP 3.0 to MP 3.6 in 2018 to make way for the Kingston Midtown Linear Park Rail Trail, CMRR continues to advocate reserving a rail right-of-way in this section so that the line can eventually be reconnected to CSX for equipment moves, charters, and occasional freight movements. Ridership CMRR ridership dramatically increased with the addition of Polar Express and Thomas the Tank engine events in Kingston in 2014. Ridership is as follows: 2008 - Kingston 884, Phoenicia 7,155, total 8,039 2009 - Kingston 1,546, Phoenicia 6,767, total 8,313 2010 - Kingston 2,044, Phoenicia 10,211, total 12,255 2011 - Kingston 2,618, Phoenicia 6,684, total 9,302 2012 - Kingston 3,065, Phoenicia 8,463, total 11,528 2013 - Kingston 4,575, Phoenicia, 10,248, total 14,823 2014 - Kingston, 31,289, Phoenicia, 8,981, total 40,270 2015 - Kingston, 27,230, Phoenicia, 12,129, total 39,359 2016 - Kingston, 29,148, Phoenicia, 9,595, total 38,743 2017 - Kingston, 36,513 (Polar 24,223, other 12,290) 2018 - Kingston, 37,619 (Polar - 26,631, other 10,988) 2019 - Kingston, 41,115 (Polar - 29,632, other 11,483) 2020 - Kingston, 13,007 (Christmas - 1,791, other 11,216) 2021 - Kingston, 23,752 (Christmas - 4,761, other 18,991) 2022 - Kingston, 46,745 (Polar - 28,845, other 17,900) In 2022, through credit card receipts, CMRR broke down its ridership as follows: Kingston and Ulster County - 9.0% Long Island and NYC - 21.3% Rockland and Sullivan Counties - 3.8% Orange County - 9.6% Westchester and Putnam County - 10.2% Dutchess County - 9.9% Capital region - 11.0% Other NYS - 1.8% New Jersey - 7.0% Other US - 7.6% International - .1% Walk-ons - 8.6%. History Catskill Mountain Railroad In 1973, the Catskill Mountain Transportation Corp. "CMCT" was formed with the goal of purchasing the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad for freight and passenger service. In 1979, Ulster County purchased the portion of the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad from MP 2.9 to MP 41.4, a total of , for $1.5 million, with the goal of resuming freight service and initiating a tourist train. The line had ceased passenger operations on March 31, 1954, and freight operations on October 2, 1976. In 1980 and 1981, members of the Kingston Model Railroad club cleared brush on the line. In 1982 members of the CMCT and the Kingston Model Railroad club formed the Catskill Mountain Railroad "CMRR", with the purpose of operating freight and passenger service on the