Coos Bay Rail Link set to roll into town By Erica Rush, KCBY News Story Published: Dec 30, 2010 at 5:44 PM PST COOS BAY, ORE. - South Coast businesses will soon be able to utilize the up and coming Coos Bay Rail Link after the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay gains ownership of the last 23 miles of the line. After months of negotiations, the Port finalized it's purchase agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad last week, who will donate the track from Cordes on the North Spit, to Coquille. In return, the port will pay roughly $114,000 to cover any crossing agreements or licensing fees Union Pacific was receiving prior to the deal. This is the tail end of the 111 mile line, that the Port already purchased from Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad, from Eugene to North Bend. According to the port's Elise Hamner, it's a necessity for suppliers on the coast. "It's critical because we have Roseburg Forest Products, with it's plant in Coquille," says Hamner, "We also have the Georgia Pacific Mill here in Coos Bay and Oregon Resources Corporation, the Mineral ORE Mining Company, that also wants use of the line. So potentially, there's a lot of traffic here that will benefit once the line is repaired." Hamner says most of the tunnel work has been completed and ground repairs and reconstruction is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2011. She says as they move closer to reopening the line, that there needs to be a greater consideration for rail safety. "People have gotten used to crossing the tracks whenever, wherever, but a lot of times you can't hear vehicles that are moving on the tracks until they're right there, where you are," says Hamner. "So it's very important to be safe and to educate children, especially, about staying off the tracks.' Hamner says the line is slated to reopen for minimal traffic next June with full service by September.
