It sounds like the shippers are striking back at the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad. Representatives of 17 Industrial Shippers on the CORP rail lines in Southern Oregon have signed on to the newly formed Coos-Siskiyou Shippers Coalition. The group brings together the businesses directly affected by CORP’s closure of the Coos Bay line. A news release announcing the coalition says CORP is planning to close the South end of the Siskiyou line, which provides access to markets in California for shippers in Glendale and Medford. Its no surprise to see that Roseburg Forest Products President Allyn Ford is the Chairman - considering RFP is the largest shipper on the Coos and Siskiyou lines. According to Ford, the Coalition was formed to organize shippers and to give them one voice to quote ‘get a seat at the table where discussions are made that negatively impact economic interests in all of southwest Oregon’. The list of coalition members includes American Bridge, Boise Cascade, Weyerhaeuser and numberous lumber producers from Medford to Brookings, Coos Bay, Cottage Grove, Junction City and several others in Douglas County. Bob Ragon, Executive Director for the Douglas Timber Operators is serving as the Coalition’s spokesman until a scheduled news conference next week.
A good move. Some interesting and powerful interests named here. Now to watch for the next step. Boxcab E50
