Port Kembla continues to demonstrate its role as a key trade gateway supporting the growth of NSW with the arrival of the third shipment of Transport for NSW’s New Intercity Fleet trains – the first new intercity train to be introduced in NSW in 49 years.
Arriving onboard the Dong A Metis, operated by Mitsui O.S.K Line on Thursday 17 September, the consignment included one full train comprising 10 rail carriages, weighing approximately 50 tonnes each. The arrival of new trains will become a regular occurrence over the next few years as the full fleet of 554 rail carriages are imported through Port Kembla.
The seamless operation took place at the Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT) facility at Port Kembla and was coordinated by Hyundai Glovis Australia Pty Ltd and its sub-contractor Pioneer World Group and its executive agent, International Cargo Express. The operation involved unloading the rail carriages from the vessel by dock truck and mafi trailer before lifting them by crane directly onto the on-dock rail infrastructure, from where they were towed by locomotive to Eveleigh in Sydney.
The New Intercity Fleet train will now undergo rigorous testing across the intercity network over the next few months to ensure it is ready to service thousands of customers travelling between Sydney and the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains and the South Coast.
NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas said this was yet another example of Port Kembla’s expertise in handling large project cargo and the ease of working with all parties in the supply chain to provide an efficient logistics solution.
“One of Port Kembla’s key advantages is the ability to unload cargo directly onto the Port’s on-dock rail infrastructure, where it can efficiently connect to the broader Sydney and regional NSW rail network.
“The New Intercity Fleet project makes great use of Port Kembla’s existing rail infrastructure and connections and is yet another example of how the Port operates around the clock to service the people of NSW.
“As a critical link in the logistics supply chain, we continue to work closely with cargo owners, stevedores and our partners to deliver the smoothest and most efficient journey for these critical projects.”
International Cargo Express Project Officer, Marcus Mangiafico said Port Kembla was the natural choice for handling this large-scale project: “We are really proud to be involved in such a critical infrastructure project. Working closely with the team at Port Kembla, we have successfully administered the operational activities for these initial consignments to achieve the best outcome for all stakeholders.”
*The above video depicts an earlier shipment of New Intercity Fleet trains into Port Kembla.
Click here for more information on the New Intercity Fleet trains.
Click here to download the media release.
About Port Kembla:
As NSW’s port of growth, Port Kembla operates 24/7 to handle the trade needs of NSW, handling 100 percent of NSW’s motor vehicle imports and the import/export of agriproducts, minerals and bulk and liquid bulk cargo. The Port delivers nearly $543 million in Gross Regional Product to the Illawarra (roughly $1,805 per person) and supports local jobs, with 99 percent of Port Kembla’s workforce residing within the Illawarra. Port Kembla is also approved by the NSW Government as the site for NSW’s next container terminal, once Port Botany nears capacity.