MSC’s Medlog has expanded again in Australia with the completion of its acquisition of the Ettamogah Rail Hub (ERH), near the twin cities of Albury/Wodonga on the NSW/Victoria border.
Founded by local entrepreneur Colin Rees, the hub was established nearly 20 years ago on a simple idea — that regional producers and manufacturers should have better access to efficient, reliable rail infrastructure connecting them to Australia’s ports and global markets, ERH said in a LinkedIn announcement.
What began as a vision to support local industry has evolved into a critical logistics link for the Riverina and North East Victorian regions.
“From day one, the focus has been on giving regional businesses a fairer, more efficient pathway to market,” Mr Rees said. “We’ve always believed that if you build the right infrastructure in the regions, industry will back it — and that’s exactly what has happened.”
Today, ERH and its Regional Connect business supports a broad range of customers, including agricultural exporters, food processors, manufacturers and importers. It has played a key role in improving freight efficiency, reducing reliance on long-haul road transport, and providing greater certainty across supply chains, the company says.
The transition to Medlog Oceania ownership reflects a natural next step in the hub’s evolution.
“To take this asset to the next level, it needs scale, global reach and continued investment,” Mr Rees said.
“Medlog brings that capability, along with a strong commitment to regional Australia. This is about building on what’s been created here and ensuring it continues to deliver for the region over the long term.”
Under Medlog Oceania, the hub is expected to see further investment in capacity, service frequency and network integration, strengthening its role as a key inland freight gateway.
Importantly, the focus remains on continuity for customers and maintaining the reliability the hub has become known for.
“This has always been about the region — about supporting exporters, creating opportunity and making supply chains more dependable,” Mr Rees said. “That doesn’t change. What this does is put the hub in a position to do even more.”
The ERH is a purpose-built facility and is claimed to be one of the most efficient intermodal hubs on the east coast. It will continue to operate and grow as a vital piece of regional infrastructure, supporting industry growth and strengthening connections between inland Australia and its domestic and international markets, the company said.
Finalisation of the deal continues a Medlog expansion spree, which recently saw the completion of its deal to acquire to acquire the Seaway Group’s Intermodal Division and the signing of an agreement with Port of Melbourne to lease most of the Melbourne Markets site at Footscray.
Mr Rees is a widely recognised innovator in road/rail logistics in Australia, pioneering short-haul port-rail shunts and developing the associated Cargo Sprinter concept. He established Colin Rees Timber Transport, which became Colin Rees Bulk Haulage and later CRT Group which revolutionized the bulk plastic distribution network in Australia with 30-foot maxi containers.
The Colin Rees Group has developed and/or operated five intermodal facilities in Australia.