Aerial view of the Enfield container terminal.
Aurizon has commenced its rail port shuttle from Port Botany to the Enfield intermodal facility in Sydney.
The Enfield to Port Botany rail service is part of Aurizon’s investment at Enfield, providing customers with a service from the Port to Western Sydney. A single port shuttle also removes up to 45 individual truck movements per day from Sydney roads.
The initial service is operating operate six times a week, with plans to increase the number of services over the medium term to accommodate growing customer demand.
Only last week, Aurizon announced a new five-year contract with K&S Freighters including the movement of up to 20,000 TEU per annum. K&S will be a beneficiary of the new port shuttle. Aurizon commenced operations at Enfield on 9 May 2016 under a 10-year lease of facilities at Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre (ILC) owned by NSW Ports.
Aurizon executive vice president customer & strategy Mauro Neves said the Port Shuttle Service represents a breakthrough for customers in the congested Sydney region.
“We are delighted to have operated the first shuttle and look forward to welcoming more customers on board through delivering safe, efficient and reliable rail services through Sydney.
“The Enfield Intermodal Terminal is ideally positioned in Sydney’s inner west with direct and dedicated rail freight corridor to Port Botany,” he said. “Delivering on the Port Shuttle and building volume and scale with high-quality customers is integral to Aurizon Intermodal’s success in a very competitive market.”
NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas said the commencement of the port shuttle service is another important milestone in the development of the Enfield site. “Intermodal facilities such as Enfield will become a vital part of the future port supply chain for New South Wales, becoming inland extensions to Port Botany, allowing the needs of the people and businesses of New South Wales to be met into the future” said Ms Calfas.
“NSW Ports has set a target to move three million TEU per year by rail by 2045 to meet the State’s growing trade needs into the future” she said. “The commencement of the port shuttle service at Enfield is important in achieving this and provides a platform for the future growth and development of this new transport and warehousing hub in Sydney.”