(The Associated Press circulated the following on December 16.)
MEDFORD, Ore. — Timber companies in Southern Oregon are upset about a planned cutback in area service by the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad.
Starting January 15th, all California-bound traffic originating from Ashland or points north will be rerouted to Eugene.
Then, trains will head south to Klamath Falls on a Union Pacific line.
Shipments will continue travel over the Siskiyou Pass on a bi-weekly basis, but only until April 15th.
The rerouting adds hundreds more rail miles for shippers out of the Rogue Valley.
Area companies say the change will mean more reliance on trucking, which means less competition and higher prices.