LINX Cargo Care Group has created a new avenue for Australia’s grain farmers in the Central West with the recent expansion of services from its Intermodal Terminal, part of the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre.
LINX is now partnering with CWLT Logistics to enable new services between Sydney and Bathurst, with Forbes next in line. As part of the terminal’s expansion, LINX has opened on-site fumigation services to streamline the process from ports to rail and reduce traffic, while enabling ACFS Port Logistics to undertake rural and regional tailgate inspections at the terminal.
Carlo Cutinelli, executive general manager customer and business development at LINX, said, “The LINX Intermodal Terminal is becoming a one-stop shop for Australia’s supply chain backbone, enabling greater sustainability, reduced traffic and improved rail access between the Central West and Sydney”.
“The continued investment from LINX Cargo Care Group as well as NSW Ports into the infrastructure both at the LINX Intermodal Terminal and the ports is paying off, with our farmers the first to benefit,” Mr Cutinelli said.
Grain farmers in the Central West will be the key early beneficiaries of the Sydney to Bathurst service and rural tailgate inspection services, with a quicker turnaround to the ports now possible. Driven by above-average rainfall between March and August, NSW is expected to lead a bumper harvest with winter crop production in the state predicted to rise 49% above the 10-year average to 2019-20.
Those farmers will now have a quicker path to the ports with LINX’s upgraded services and expanded terminal operations.
The expansion of capabilities at the LINX Intermodal Terminal will significantly reduce the impact of two-truck movements, as well as the overall number of trucks, around Botany.
ACFS managing director and CEO, Arthur Tzaneros said, “With the support and alliance of many of the major shipping lines, upgrade and repair facilities, as well as the key strength of 3 x 900-metre tracks which allow for the service of 1.8-metre trains, this provides a distinct advantage in the LINX Intermodal Terminal service that will reap benefits for the Central West service, and its related customers”.
“Furthermore, customers can now also receive an end-to-end service on imports, further streamlining the port to rail process on the port shuttle that is serviced via the dedicated freight line, while complying with all relevant import regulations.”
Mr Cutinelli said, “With our service, we collect the container from the port, we bring it back to the LINX Intermodal Terminal, it goes directly off our train into the fumigation area. It gets fumigated, vented, cleared and then we can then get that container and put it directly into our subtenant’s yard or our customer comes and collects the box.
“We’re now able to clear up to 40 containers a day.”
A tailgate inspection involves a visual inspection of the inside of a container to see if there are insects, dirt, or grass. If any of these are found that could indicate the presence of pests which could affect agriculture, LINX now has the facilities for ACFS to be able to wash down a container.
