Plans to rebuild Oakesdale to Thornton dead at last report. No money, property has reverted to landowners and several stated they would have to be forced to sell. There is also the issue of need for it as well. That's why getting the Colfax-Pullman link up and running is so important---gotta get traffic started to demonstrate that there is a need.
In the past, there has been interest from several shippers on both sides to use such a link, but unfortunately W&I pushed for the line rebuild instead due to fears related to operation of Crest Hill out of Colfax. There are conflicting reports on the condition of the other bridges on the Colfax-Pullman line, one structural engineer I talked to felt the poor condition of the other bridges had been vastly overstated and claimed to have documentation. I know for a fact that the WSDOT has greatly overstated the cost of replacing the burned bridge (a cost they greatly increased when they demolished--for reasons unknown--the 70% of the bridge that wasn't damaged). One tidbit of information that might also be working against things here is the fact that there were plans on the books to extend the Bill Chipman trail to Colfax on the UP line BEFORE the state purchased it. Cost to build the paved trail, including access points, rebuilding the burned bridge, redecking the remaining bridges and fencing is going to cost more than rehabbing the line as a railroad. State of Washington says recreation money is likely available to build the trail, but transportation monies are not available to rebuild as a railroad. Further complicating things is the constant turn over at the top of the WSDOT Rail Division, the current head was quoted recently in the Whitman County Gazette as not even knowing that the State of Washington even owned any branch lines. Although I'm told he has been educated a little on the Eastern Washington branch lines, it is evident that the WSDOT intends to be focused on Western Washington passenger trains and pending High Speed Rail studies.
By the way, if the Colfax to Pullman line was reopened, and traffic grew enough to justify the rebuild of the Oakesdale to Thornton line, the Colfax-Pullman link would still have uses, including tourist train potential, so it's reopening wouldn't go to waste (another example, access to Colfax to Winona area customers would be easier from Pullman.)