The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request to remove the 40-mile Fort Bragg-Willits rail corridor from the national rail network, preserving the line for continued freight and passenger use.
The unanimous decision confirms that the corridor remains part of the interstate rail system and recognizes its potential for present and future rail service.
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.
Mendocino Railway officials are calling for renewed collaboration with the Great Redwood Trail Agency to pursue a coordinated rail-and-trail approach that serves both transportation and recreation goals. Railway officials said the company has extensive experience developing and maintaining rail-with-trail projects in California and owns the specialized equipment required to build and steward trail infrastructure responsibly.
The company is actively advancing federally supported infrastructure improvements designed to restore full functionality of the line between Fort Bragg and Willits. These investments are intended to strengthen freight options for local businesses, preserve tourism through excursion passenger service, and maintain long-term transportation flexibility in a rural region with limited alternatives.
Mendocino Railway is a federally regulated Class III common carrier public utility railroad providing freight and passenger service in Northern California. Since 2004, the company has operated and maintained the historic Fort Bragg-Willits line, including the Skunk Train passenger service.
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