Queensland Rail (QR) will partner a DP World-led logistics group in a new domestic and international rail hub development at
Queensland Rail (QR) will partner a DP World-led logistics group in a new domestic and international rail hub development at Yennora in Western Sydney.
P&O Trans Australia, a joint venture between DP World and the Chris Corrigan-chaired Kaplan logistics investment vehicle, will jointly operate the terminal with QR at the existing Yennora rail site to compliment the operations of both partners.
The development will include an intermodal terminal operated by P&O on behalf of both partners, which will cater for QR’s national intermodal business, along with a new port shuttle service carrying international cargo to and from Port Botany.
P&O proposes to commence the shuttle service during the second quarter of 2008, with capability for 10 train services per day to and from Port Botany and domestic capital cities.
“From the Yennora hub we have a unique opportunity to provide industry with an all-rail service that links Port Botany to western Sydney using our port shuttle and throughout Australia using a domestic rail service that has national coverage,” says Paul Digney, Managing Director for P&O Trans Australia.
“The Port shuttle can handle container traffic to and from Port Botany by rail in larger volumes and more reliably than is currently possible by road, given congestion levels.”
QR’s Group Executive General Manager Freight Stephen Cantwell says the Yennora development will help both partners to jointly attain market leadership in the provisionof fully integrated rail transport solutions, and also deliver the ability to connect from vessel to rail to terminal to customer to national distribution.
“The Yennora development is an important interim step towards the building of the major metropolitan hub at Moorebank in Sydney’s west announced late last year in conjunction with Stockland and Kaplan,” Cantwell says.
“We have always said that key pieces of infrastructure and complementary partnerships would be important component parts to QR’s success.
“Following the recent launch of our Cairns to Perth service, this announcement provides further evidence of our determination to establish an alternative national rail option.”
Digney says the Yennora partnership will provide for rail-based warehousing at the site, allowing for the distribution of domestic and international product throughout Australia from a single facility.
“There will also be empty container storage, repairs and handling facilities to remove unnecessary road legs from the transport chain and make international containers readily available to exporters,” Digney says.
“Other benefits include a central receival terminal for container packing of domestic and international loads and the provision of a full range of Customs and AQIS handling services, removing the need to deliver boxes to third-party facilities for inspection and treatment.
“There will also be a transport fleet on site to provide on time pick up and delivery for customers in the area.”