MSC lines up new rail options

MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company is riding the rails via a new inland network assembled during the last six months.

The carrier claims it can deliver a faster, simpler, and more predictable and efficient way to move containers beyond traditional port limits to strategically located inland depots, via its expanded intermodal footprint.

“Customers can now route cargo directly from Sydney terminals to Minto, or from Melbourne terminals to vital regional hubs in Ettamogah, Griffith, and Bomen. This robust integration allows businesses to bypass crowded coastal roads, reducing reliance on trucking and tapping into a highly streamlined logistics network,” MSC says.

“This service bridges the gap between major maritime ports and crucial inland markets, ensuring that goods keep moving without unnecessary delays.”

MSC claims this comprehensive rail network provides numerous operational and environmental benefits:

• Lowered delivery costs: Efficient rail transport significantly reduces last-mile expenses, offering a highly economical logistics model for long-distance freight.
• Direct container access: Customers experience direct pick-up of full import containers at dedicated inland depots, optimising the final stages of the distribution process.
• Simplified equipment returns: A single de-hire location accommodates all container types, removing the administrative burden of managing multiple return sites.
• Accelerated turnaround times: Swift rail transfers minimize delays often associated with port congestion, ensuring cargo becomes available faster.

“We understand that modern logistics operations demand administrative simplicity. To leverage this expansive network, customers can simply place a single booking using predefined port-of-discharge and place-of-delivery options. MSC takes full responsibility for the entire journey.

“This unified, one-stop approach eliminates the need to coordinate with multiple third-party haulers, saving valuable time and administrative resources. The integration of maritime and inland services reflects a strong commitment to adapting to customer needs.”

MSC, via its landside logistics subsidiary MEDLOG, has been relentlessly expanding in Australia recent years, most recently acquiring the CRT Group’s Ettamogah Rail Hub and Seaway’s Intermodal Division, while also signing of an agreement with Port of Melbourne to lease most of the Melbourne Markets site at Footscray behind Swanson Dock.