Siskiyou Line/YWRR

There is more coverage in the NRToday.com on the possible takeover of the Siskiyou Line by YWRR. What a great New Year it would be for those involved if a favorable decision is made!:tb-biggrin:

 

Ore. delegation seeks vote on Siskiyou line


Posted: Friday, December 25, 2009 11:25 am

Three members of Oregon's congressional delegation have sent a letter to the new chairman of the federal Surface Transportation Board, asking him to quickly decide on whether to allow a railroad company to operate a 218-mile commercial rail line between Oregon and California.
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Peter DeFazio sent the letter last week to Daniel Elliott, asking him to bring the matter to a vote. The line between Dillard, Ore., and Black Butte, Calif. would be operated by Yreka Western Railroad Co.
Two years ago, Roseburg-based Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad curtailed southbound service between Ashland and Weed, Calif., and sliced northbound service from five or six days a week to two.
The railroad said the cutbacks reflected lower demand on the Siskiyou line.
Shippers claimed the railroad deliberately downgraded service. A year ago, the Coos-Siskiyou Shippers Coalition petitioned the Surface Transportation Board to allow Yreka Western to take over the line.
In March, the board said the coalition hadn't proven that rail service was "inadequate" and asked for additional information. Not much has happened since then.
"It has been nearly nine months since the coalition submitted the requisite information to demonstrate the inadequacy of that service," Wyden, Merkley and DeFazio wrote. "We urge you to move as quickly as possible to rule fairly on the Coos-Siskiyou Shippers Coalition's petition."
The reduced service forced shippers along the line to switch from rail transportation to more expensive trucking.
"Reliable and affordable railroad service is critical to the well-being of rural business and economies in Oregon," they wrote. "Often rail is the only affordable transportation option for timber, manufacturing and industrial businesses in our state."
Bob Ragon, spokesman for the shippers coalition, said he was pleased with the congressional pressure.
"We've had no indication of where they are with reviewing our request and issuing a decision, so we're happy our congressional delegation sent the letter," Ragon said.
Dave Arganbright, an assistant vice president for RailAmerica, CORP's parent company, declined comment on the letter, but said the railroad _ if properly compensated _ will allow another operator to use the line.
"CORP then engaged in negotiations with prospective operators, but we were unable to reach agreement with them," Arganbright said in an e-mail to the News-Review newspaper of Roseburg.

 

Latest on Siskiyou Liine and players

Rail line proposal runs into potential roadblock [Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.]

Posted 01/07/2010, MMT reporter Greg Stiles:



Jan. 7--A push by local freight shippers and Oregon's congressional delegation to get federal regulatory backing for a new rail service provider for the Siskiyou Summit has encountered a challenge.
A Dec. 16 letter from Oregon politicians urged the federal Surface Transportation Board to take action on the Coos-Siskiyou Shippers Coalition's nine-month-old request to oust incumbent Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad's (CORP) control of the Siskiyou Summit line. Two years ago, CORP virtually eliminated southbound service between Ashland and Weed, Calif., and sliced northbound service from five or six days a week to two. Shippers say that has forced them to use trucks and driven up their costs.
The letter, signed by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Peter DeFazio, had scarcely been circulated when a California group asked the transportation panel to leave the matter unresolved until it could complete its own negotiations.
The group, the Siskiyou Regional Railroad Authority, hopes to acquire 90 of the 218 miles of rail line between Weed and Eugene.
If the California group's request for the STB to defer action is approved, the local shippers' push for an alternative rail provider is likely to remain unanswered in the near future.
"I'm afraid the risk is real," coalition spokesman Bob Ragon said Wednesday. "It's a perfect excuse for them not to deal with it and for them to let it lay there on their desk."
The Coos-Siskiyou Shippers Coalition wants the West Texas & Lubbock Railway and Yreka Western to operate on the Siskiyou Summit line.
The Siskiyou Regional Railroad Authority is a joint effort of the California cities of Montague and Weed.
SRRA has moved forward on two fronts, lining up the agreements to operate the lines and gaining political and community support for its effort, said John Hammond, the group's president as well as the mayor of Montague.
The authority has a signed memorandum of understanding with Union Pacific to acquire the rail line and to provide common carrier service with a shortline operator. SRRA would temporarily lease the line until the acquisition is completed.
"It is our understanding that (Union Pacific) is working with CORP to provide assignment of the current lease to the SRRA," Hammond wrote in his letter asking STB Chairman Daniel Elliott III to delay action on the matter. "SRRA is of the opinion that this negotiated transaction provides the best long term option for both current and future shippers on the line."
The part of the Siskiyou Summit line, also known as the Black Butte Branch line, that SRRA hopes runs between Weed and Bellevue, just south of Ashland.
"There has been a petition before the STB for a year and a half, requesting alternative service," Hammond said Wednesday. "We believe SRRA can provide an alternative to the alternative service."
The attorney for the shipper's coalition wrote the STB Tuesday, noting he was not a sent a copy of the SRRA's letter and further that SRRA did not speak for the petitioners.
"Contrary to the position expressed," Chicago attorney Thomas F. McFarland wrote, "(the) petitioners respectfully request the Board move forward to decision."
Siskiyou Regional Rail Authority needs $16 million to acquire the right-of-way, Hammond said. A key component is a request for $3.5 million grant from Connect Oregon 3.
"We're also applying for a federal grant with a loan program to do precisely what we are doing -- purchasing and improvement of infrastructure," he said.
The shipper's coalition, however, is skeptical that such a project could receive Connect Oregon 3 transportation funds.
"It all depends on them getting funding from some source to buy the line and we think that's problematic for them," Ragon said. "The agreed purchase price is $16 million and on top of that most of the track is in California. We think that might be a problem. We have requested a meeting with the mayors of Montague and Weed to clear the air and make sure we aren't working at cross purposes. Our elected officials were really confused when immediately after they wrote a letter it was countermanded by a group from Northern California."
Hammond said it was unfortunate an adversarial climate has developed.
"It's not from the SRRA, but from a few members of the Siskiyou Coalition," the mayor said. "Our effort is very inclusive and will lead to a broader base for economic development."
Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com.

 

I don't, Bill, but there's a lecture (unrelated topic) at the Ashland museum tonight - I'll try to get more info. Let you know what I hear.

Scott

 

Bill, I'm gonna e-mail you re this. Seems to be a hot potato, and I want to be careful what I say.

Scott

 

Please see my posting #3, here, re the news article of January 7. In short, the Siskiyou Regional Railroad Authority - a relatively new player in an a complicated proceeding - has asked the STB to delay its decision re rail service over the Siskisyou Line. This request flies in the face of others dedicated to restoring rail service and coaxing the STB towards action. There are a lot of folks unhappy about who's saying what to whom. There are a lot of folks worried that the process will be stalled by what's currently going on.

Scott