ROLLING stock solutions provider Rail First and Australian Food & Fibre have signed a deal to haul containerised agricultural commodities to Port Botany.
AFF managing director Joe Robinson said the partnership with Rail First marked a significant step forward for AFF’s operations and grower network, enabling the efficient haulage of commodities from northern New South Wales.
“This new service offering is a major investment in our supply chain operations that supports not only our ginning infrastructure but also the numerous growers who supply us,” Mr Robinson said.
“This deal strengthens our ability to transport cotton, cottonseed and grain efficiently from regional New South Wales to global markets; while also connecting the regional communities we operate in with more reliable, long-term freight solutions.”
Mr Robinson said rail haulage offered their businesses and customers a safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to transport large volumes of agricultural export commodities from paddock to port.
Containerised freight volumes are consolidated across AFF’s regional network, including key intermodal terminals in Narrabri and Warren, before being transported to port.
Rail First chief executive Beata Lipman said the deal was a great example of Australian businesses partnering to lift productivity.
“Rail First’s approach is to deeply understand each modal leg in regional and interstate supply chain operations to help better integrate rail haulage into the freight and logistics needs of customers like AFF,” Ms Lipman said.
“Leasing products have been developed to provide Rail First customers like AFF with the option to use and maintain the latest modern freight locomotives and rail wagons, allowing them to rapidly ‘flex up’ supply chain operations while preserving capital for other business initiatives.”
Rail freight operations for AFF, including provision of train crews, is to be done by above-rail operator Sydney Rail Services (SRS).
SRS general manager Matt Stapleton said SRS had “a great deal of expertise and experience in providing regional rail services to a diverse range of supply chain customers, notably in the sectors of containerised and bulk freight”.
“This deal involved our companies working together to integrate and leverage our respective assets, commercial products, regional footprints and skilled freight workers to deliver a new and superior outcome for the transport of agricultural commodities to port,” Mr Stapleton said.
He said the rail service had operated up to three times each week between Narrabri and Sydney since the start of the season, shifting up to 65FEU of freight each trip (about 1982 metric tonnes).
Mr Stapleton said AFF’s intermodal terminal at Narrabri was “a perfect location to both consolidate containerised freight volumes and stage regional train services destined for the port”.
“Additionally, the cycling of empty shipping containers into operations for AFF will be undertaken at the Swift Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre, which offers direct and daily connections to Port Botany via dedicated freight-only rail,” he said.
Mr Robinson said the collaboration had helped AFF to improve how it transported high volumes of cotton, cottonseed and grain to port.
“It is strengthening both the efficiency and sustainability of our supply chain and positions us to better meet the evolving needs of our growers, customers and export partners,” he said.