This story ran today on
KQEN Radio in Roseburg, Oregon. The home of CORP.



It’s been two weeks since Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad and their parent company RailAmerica filed their response to the Surface Transportation Board’s show cause order about the Coos Bay rail line.
The STB gave CORP until May 12th to answer the show cause order why the closure of the Coos Bay line should not be considered an illegal abandonment.
Since then RaiAmerica and Corp have responded to the STB with their take on the shutdown and even placed the portion from Noti to Coquille in consideration for legal abandonment within three years.
Also the stake holders along the line including the Coos -Siskiyou Coalition have asked the STB for an extension in the short ten day response window to respond to CORP’s filing. The original date for that response was May 22nd . The STB granted their request for the extension to June 3rd.
It is expected that the shippers along the Coos Bay Rail Line will object to CORP’s response and new legal abandonment proposal.
If the STB rules against CORP & RailAmerica on the illegal abandonment issue, a temporary operator of the line could then be ordered by the STB to get the line going again.
One of the largest hurdles to be addressed by any temporary operator that is appointed would be the tunnel repairs that are needed and how quick the line could be then re-opened.
Until the STB makes it decision on how they will handle the Coos Bay Rail Line, everyone including the coastal shippers are on pins and needles waiting.