By Karen Robes Meeks
More export opportunities and vessel calls could come to the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, thanks to a newly completed rail spur that will be able to handle inbound freight in North Bend.
A new rail spur will enable K2 Exports to move logs by rail from its K2 Exports yard on Ko-Kwel Wharf property directly to its export terminal, according to the port and the Coquille Economic Development Corporation (CEDCO).
“CEDCO has been interested in linking our industrial development property to the rail line ever since rail service returned to our communities,” said CEDCO CEO Judy Duffy-Metcalf. “After receiving a request to create a rail link and analytics to support the project from their customer, K2 Exports presented us with a business case for building a spur on the wharf property. We were happy to coordinate the effort with Coos Bay Rail Link,” she added.
New rail spur would make logging operations in the Willamette Valley more efficient. According to the CEDCO, an estimated 350 rail cars could handle the same log volume as 1,250 trucks.