To the Editorial Team: On Dec. 20, the Woodstock Land Conservancy (“WLC”) wrote in the Kingston Wire “The CMRR wants to destroy the Ashokan Rail Trail.”

The reality is that the WLC wants to destroy the CMRR to have a train-free trail.

The letter contains false accusations and concludes that “The CMRR has shown its true intention: to undo the progress of the last decade and expand into reservoir property, destroying the Ashokan Rail Trail.”

The CMRR’s policy since 2014 has been “rail with trail” from Kingston to the Ashokan Reservoir. Why would “rail with trail” destroy the Ashokan Rail Trail?

KATRAIL.org, sponsored by the WLC, states “we believe that train operations should be limited to the shortest viable portion.” In other words, nothing.

Their letter also accuses the CMRR of a “my way or the highway” attitude. But in reality, it is the WLC that wants their way only with their complete rejection of rail with trail.

Since 2014, the CMRR has reached out to the WLC multiple times to work together. But the head of the WLC has told us that a railroad track beside the trail will ruin the experience for him. He added that he will never work with us.

It is time for the WLC to get off its high horse and start working with the CMRR.

Yes, rail with trail will be more expensive than trail-only. However, there are many grants available to make rail with trail from Kingston to the Ashokan Rail Trail reality.

The CMRR has called on Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger to mediate this dispute and we await her response.

We need to start 2026 on a new note — and a positive one for Ulster County — by putting the “my way or the highway” attitude of the WLC into the trash bin of history forever.

Ernie Hunt

President

Catskill Mountain Railroad

Kingston