(File photo)
HUDSON – As 2016 comes to a close, Amtrak has released its ridership
figures for the year and the Hudson station was the third busiest in the
state. Only New York and Albany-Rensselaer were ahead of the Columbia
County facility.
The Hudson station was also ranked 49th busiest in the nation for Amtrak
ridership.
Columbia County Tourism Director Ann Cooper said that demonstrates that
the county is a hot spot for many travelers.
“Columbia County is obviously a destination, not only for tourists,
but I am sure commuters are also impacted,” she said. “We
showed an increase of 9.5 percent over 2015 stats.”
Between October 2015 and September 2016, a total of 205,919 Amtrak riders
used the Hudson station.
Rhinecliff was the fourth busiest station in the state this year, also
coming in 50th in the nation.
The Poughkeepsie station was ranked eighth in the state and 93rd busiest
in the nation.
New Rochelle was ninth in the state and 100th busiest in the nation.
Croton-Harmon 121 12th busiest in the state and 163 nationwide and Yonkers
was 16th busiest in the state and 228th in the country.
Cooper said further proof that Columbia County is a hot tourism destination
is an increase in the downloads of her tourism department’s app
and the fact that the county had the highest growth in traveler spending
in the Hudson Valley, according to Tourism Economics.
