By the mid-2000s, ridership had dropped greatly due to the lack of continued publicity. Services were reduced, which led to further decrease in patronage. By 2003 the train ran only four days a week. It was found that NYSW had used large amounts of state grants and tax breaks to fund freight service and repair track on its other lines, rather than for OnTrack as the money had been intended. Another reason for the lack of growth in ridership was the lack of stations in residential areas, limiting the line's use by commuters. In 2007 service had been cut to weekends only and ridership had declined to 50 passengers per day, far short of the 500 per day required to be profitable. NYSWR chairman Walter Rich, one of OnTrack's major proponents, died in 2007, and the railroad's interest in continuing OnTrack service diminished. Regular service was terminated indefinitely in July 2007. The Orange Express ran its last train in March 2008. The line continues to be used, infrequently, by freight trains.