STB rejects petition to remove California rail line from national network

The Surface Transportation Board late last week denied a request from the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) to remove the 40-mile Fort Bragg–Willits rail corridor in California from the national rail network for use as a recreational trail.

The STB's unanimous decision confirmed the corridor remains part of the national rail network and preserves future freight and passenger rail options in Mendocino County, said Mendocino Railway (MRY) President and CEO Robert Jason Pinoli in a press release. MRY is a subsidiary of Sierra Railroad. 

“We appreciate the Board’s thoughtful review. Our focus now is simple: protect the corridor, continue investing in it, and work constructively with regional partners on long-term solutions," said Pinoli.

On April 12, 2024, the GRTA, an agency of the state of California, petitioned the STB to authorize the third-party, or “adverse,” abandonment of a 40-mile rail line owned by MRY that extends between Fort Bragg and Willits in Mendocino County. At Willits, the MRY Line connects to a 316-mile rail line known as the Northwestern Pacific Railroad corridor (GRTA line). MRY acquired the MRY Line from California Western Railroad in 2004. 

A tunnel on the line, located 3 miles east of Fort Bragg, has been closed since 2015, making it impossible for trains to traverse the line's entire length. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded MRY and Sierra Northern Railway a $31.4 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Loan to finance rehabilitation of the tunnel and make other improvements. MRY operates a passenger excursion service on segments of the MRY Line, known as the Skunk Train.

The STB’s decision does not prevent trail development. Instead, it makes clear that recreational trail use can coexist with rail service where properly planned, Pinoli said. 

MRY is calling for renewed collaboration with the agency to pursue a coordinated rail-and-trail approach that serves both transportation and recreation goals.

“We respect the GRTA’s vision,” said Pinoli. “Rail corridors are uniquely valuable because they can serve multiple public purposes. We are prepared to work together on a solution that preserves freight access, maintains passenger service, and expands trail opportunities for the community.”