In another milestone for Australia’s largest intermodal precinct at Moorebank in Western Sydney, the new Interstate Rail Terminal’s container handling facilities are now under construction and on track for receiving its first interstate freight train in early 2024.
The Interstate Terminal is the final major infrastructure component of the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct and will be the first independent metropolitan interstate rail terminal constructed in over 30 years. When operational, the terminal will drive greater freight efficiencies between all mainland Capital Cities.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP, today marked the milestone of commencement of construction of the terminal’s handling facilities that when operational will be Australia’s most modern and efficient interstate rail terminal.
When complete, the terminal will process 1,800m long interstate trains, each moving approximately 1,500 tonnes of freight and consumer goods. The terminal will ultimately be able to process circa. 3,000 trains per year and its efficiency benefits will result in significantly lower supply chain costs and lower transport emissions.
The additional supply chain capacity will support the challenge of meeting the forecast 35% increase in freight volumes across Australia and help drive modal shift to rail, reducing pressure on our roads and highways.
At over 240 hectares (equivalent in size to the Sydney CBD), the precinct at completion will include an IMEX Terminal developed by Qube Holdings Limited (operational since 2019), over 850,000 sqm of co-located warehousing being developed by LOGOS Property and the Interstate Terminal (to be jointly operated by National Intermodal, Qube and LOGOS), linking the north-south and east-west freight routes.
James Baulderstone, CEO National Intermodal said, “Moorebank’s new Interstate Terminal will deliver long-term value for the precinct and boost market confidence that higher volumes of rail freight can move efficiently, safely and sustainably across state borders.
“The progress being made at the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct, is a great example of how industry and Government entities can work successfully together to develop innovative, modern infrastructure of the future.
“The scale of the Moorebank precinct, together with its direct link to Port Botany and mainland capital cities, will not only increase capacity and drive freight efficiencies but will remove significant costs from the supply chain.”
“The rail freight sector has been constrained by limited infrastructure investment and market concentration. The genuinely open access facilities at Moorebank will help to ensure that efficiency savings resulting from these modern facilities are passed onto customers and end consumers helping to relieve recent significant increases in supply chain costs.” Mr Baulderstone said.
