The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) and its freight operator, the Northwestern Pacific Railway Co. LLC (NWPY) jointly announce the receipt of Notice of Partial Release from the limitations of Federal Railroad Authority Emergency Order 21 on February 1, 2001.

The release allows the railroad to resume service between Lombard and Mile Post 43 near Penngrove, a distance of 40.8 miles. The railroad was closed by the issuance of FRA Emergency Order 21 in November of 1998 due to non-compliance with State and Federal requirements. The re-opening represents the first step in providing freight rail service to the many communities and businesses along the line that extends northward paralleling Highway 101 to its end at the Port of Humboldt Bay.

State and Federal funding sources were utilized for much of the repair work, but it has been the freight operator, NWPY, that has funded the final completion. The Governor’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program has identified $60 million to address NCRA’s identified funding needs.

"This is a great first step in getting the entire North Coast Railroad up and running. The opening of this line is a collaborative effort with the NCRA, the employees who have put so much into this railroad, the State, and all of the people who live on the North Coast. We should all be proud of today and remember it as a monumental step for the North Coast," said State Senator Wesley Chesbro, a long time supporter of the re-establishment of rail service to the North Coast.

"This day has been a long time coming" said David Ripple, NCRA’s recently appointed Chairman ."We can now start providing freight service to the shippers along this section of the line. This is an important first step towards re-establishing service all along the North Coast. There has been significant cooperation from all participants to complete this important initial phase. We look forward to providing service to mile post 63 in the near future."

"Rail service will begin in the very near future", stated Mr. John Darling, CEO and Chief Financial Officer of NWPY. "We will announce an official start up date within the next few days. All the employees of the NWPY are looking forward to serving our customers who have been very patient awaiting the reactivation of service. They deserve, and will receive, the best service we can give them."

The next segment of the line to be opened will begin at Mile Post 43 and end at Mile Post 63 at Windsor River Road, Windsor, CA. The NWPY is currently working on the track structure and highway crossing protection north of Penngrove in preparation for the next FRA inspection and the continuation of further partial relief of Emergency Order 21. A contract for the work required to re-open from Windsor to Willits will be let by NCRA this spring with completion expected by early summer.

The NCRA is a public agency that owns that portion of the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad between Healdsburg and Humboldt Bay and is responsible for providing freight service over the entire line. The Northwestern Pacific Railway Company, LLC is a common carrier providing rail transportation, management, and business services.