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On Dec. 29, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay finalized a transaction with Union Pacific Railroad that transferred ownership of a 23-mile Coos Bay line section from the Class I to the port. The line portion runs from Cordes to Coquille, Ore., and includes rail yard facilities in North Bend and Coos Bay, Ore.

A tunnel contractor completed a $3.7 million tunnel rehabilitation and maintenance project on the Coos Bay line in early October, and port staff currently is working with engineering consultants to plan track repairs — including rail, ties and ballast work — and maintenance of bridges, trestles and culverts. The port also plans to upgrade public grade crossings and signal devices. Work is scheduled to begin in spring, with freight-rail service restored by mid-year.

The port is evaluating proposals from short-line operators who have expressed an interest in providing service on the line. When service is restored, the Coos Bay line will be operated as the Coos Bay Rail Link, port officials said in a prepared statement.

In 2009, the port acquired a 111-mile segment of the Coos Bay line between Danebo and Cordes from the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Inc., which closed the line in 2007 because of costly tunnel safety deficiencies.