EUGENE, Ore. – A significant change is underway in Eugene as the Surface Transportation Board has approved a lease agreement between Union Pacific Railroad and Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP) to place CORP in charge of the rail yard in Eugene’s Bethel neighborhood.
Concerns have been raised by Bethel community members and union workers regarding potential layoffs. The worry stems from CORP being a class-three railroad, which is notably smaller and less financially robust compared to Union Pacific, a class-one railroad.
A docket obtained by Trains Magazine revealed that CORP began transitioning into the rail yard over the weekend of April 12. The Surface Transportation Board ruled that the union’s concerns were not sufficiently supported by evidence, leading to the rejection of their opposition…