Rail Coalition Update
From:
KQEN Radio
Roseburg, Oregon

Last month a meeting was held in Salem which featured Governor Ted Kulongoski, Congressman Peter DeFazio, The Coos-Siskiyou Coalition, rail shippers, state lawmakers and representatives of Rail America and Union Pacific.
According to Coos-Siskiyou Coalition Spokesman Bob Regan, the Governor and Representative DeFazio made it clear that the line has to be
re-opened before the State considers any funding options. Both the Governor and Representative Defazio say’s that RailAmerica needs to take a leadership role in making that happen.
Railroad official’s responded that they would take it to the Corporate level at their headquarters in Florida and have an answer ready for the Governor within one week after the Salem meeting.
Douglas Timber Operators Executive Director and Coalition spokesman Bob Regan says that Rail America has been silent on that response and it's been two weeks.
Regan adds that there is still a lot of work ahead for the coalition and says that their group is still moving in the right direction in their efforts to keeping the Siskiyou Line in Southern Oregon and Northern California open and restoring rail traffic on the Coos Bay Branch line. No additional meetings with State or Federal Officials have been scheduled this month.