The Daily Freeman is reporting Ulster County has granted a permit to the Catskill Mountain Railroad that allows the company to resume scenic train rides in the Kingston-Ulster area beginning August 1. The permit is good through the end of 2020, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said Mon., Jul. 18. The county also granted the railroad a short-term permit to provide scenic train rides in the Mount Tremper-Phoenicia area this fall. Beginning next year, that stretch of track will be used for rail bike rides provided by Rail Explorers Corp. The Catskill Mountain Railroad will pay the county a $50,000-per-year user fee. The railroad will use the section of track that starts at the east end of Kingston Plaza and ends at Route 28A in Ulster. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.