(The following story by Don Jepsen appeared on the Mail Tribune website on March 19.)
MEDFORD, Ore. — With deregulation, intrastate shortline/regional railroads have assumed a greater role in moving freight in Oregon.
In 1993, the shortlines ran 44,161 cars. That soared to 207,000 cars in 2005, according to the Oregon Shortline Railroad Association.
Technically, a shortline is defined as one grossing less than $40 million annually over 350 track miles or less. The regionals have an annual gross revenue of between $40 million and $289 million and operate more than 350 miles of track. The common reference for both is shortline.
There are 21 shortlines operating in Oregon, many spun off from major carriers following passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. The Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad (known as CORP) provides the only freight service for Jackson, Josephine and Coos counties, connecting to Union Pacific lines in Eugene and Weed, Calif.
In 2005, CORP moved 49,446 carloads of freight, second only to Portland & Western Railroad with 105,000 carloads.
The CORP spur between Coos Bay and Eugene would be critical to a proposal to bring container cargo into Coos Bay harbor for shipment to the Willamette Valley. But the cost to upgrade would be high — some $125 million.
About 60 percent of Oregon’s shippers are located on shortline railroads, mainly in Western Oregon.
Like Class I lines, the shortlines have problems with maintenance and preservation. The Oregon Shortline Railroad Association listed the following needs:
* Upgrade 500 miles of rail lines to handle heavier loads. The estimated cost is between $125 million to $150 million, or $250,000 to $300,000 per mile.
* Replace, repair or upgrade hundreds of railroad bridges throughout Oregon and enlarge some tunnels to accept double stack container traffic.
* Increase rail yard capacity and switching and servicing facilities.
The major priorities, according to the association, are stable funding for capital upgrades and continued improvement of rail safety and security.