Railex continues chugging along with completion of new California facility
Railex continues chugging along with completion of new California facility
It is said that good things come in threes, and that is certainly the case at Railex LLC.
With diesel fuel prices at an all-time high and with no relief in sight, the firm, a division of Riverhead, NY-based ADS Management LLC, is putting the finishing touches on its third state-of-the-art "freight-forward" distribution terminal in Delano, CA.
Paul Esposito, Railex's senior vice president of sales and logistics, told The Produce News Sept. 22 that its first Delano train is scheduled to depart Oct. 2 for its Rotterdam, NY, terminal.
Mr. Esposito said that he is "excited about the opportunity to ship [California] product" and said the firm was "in the process of taking orders."
The new 220,000-square-foot facility, which is located off Interstate 99, will have freezer capabilities in addition to its temperature-zoned rooms and will load into 19 railcars at a time, Mr. Esposito said, noting that the first train will be carrying carrots, celery and grapes.
He was anticipating hauling some of the upcoming citrus crop and "diversifying into other types of commodities similar to its other facilities." Railex will offer guaranteed five-day service between Delano and Rotterdam, the same guarantee it offers now on the unit train it operates between its Wallula, WA, and Rotterdam terminals.
It will utilize 64-foot refrigerated ARMN railcars that are equipped with global positioning satellite tracking, fresh air exchange and temperature control. The unit trains are moved across the country by the Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation and always remain intact, which avoids shifting of products and potential time delays.
Ground was broken March 4 for the Delano facility, and Mr. Esposito said it has "been a plan of Railex since its inception."
He noted that a fourth track was recently added at its Rotterdam terminal "in anticipation of the arrival of multiple trains," and the firm is in the process of adding five rail slots and freezer facilities there as well.
Though he was not able to provide an exact timetable, Mr. Esposito said that "at some point" Railex's service will expand from two to four weekly trains into Rotterdam - two from Delano and two from Wallula - though he expected Delano to have two trains "as the season progresses."
Industry leaders in California were looking forward to the opportunities Railex will soon provide.
"I think our members are anxious to learn more about the service," Barry Bedwell, president of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, told The Produce News. "Clearly, with the rising cost of fuel and the cost to get goods across the country, everyone is turning their attention to potential cost- saving alternatives, and I think there is an interested and open mind from people in the industry."
Jim Bogart of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California told The Produce News that it was in the midst of conducting a rail feasibility study for Salinas Valley and Central Coast shippers and had toured the new Delano terminal.
"We're looking seriously at rail, and several of our members are, too, and from what I've learned thus far, I do think it has some good possibilities," Mr. Bogart said. "I think it's something certainly to follow. Let's face it, these times are tough for the industry, and they're exploring all options. I think this is a real timely development."
In addition to its guaranteed service, Railex helps reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Railex's web site, one unit train saves over 5.2 million gallons of diesel fuel and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 85,000 metric tons yearly.
Railex is also a member of the SmartWay Transportation Partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which, according to the agency's web site, "is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution," including maximizing rail efficiency, by "highlighting practical opportunities where rail can be better utilized and to encourage more efficient rail operations and technical innovation."
With diesel fuel prices at an all-time high and with no relief in sight, the firm, a division of Riverhead, NY-based ADS Management LLC, is putting the finishing touches on its third state-of-the-art "freight-forward" distribution terminal in Delano, CA.
Paul Esposito, Railex's senior vice president of sales and logistics, told The Produce News Sept. 22 that its first Delano train is scheduled to depart Oct. 2 for its Rotterdam, NY, terminal.
Mr. Esposito said that he is "excited about the opportunity to ship [California] product" and said the firm was "in the process of taking orders."
The new 220,000-square-foot facility, which is located off Interstate 99, will have freezer capabilities in addition to its temperature-zoned rooms and will load into 19 railcars at a time, Mr. Esposito said, noting that the first train will be carrying carrots, celery and grapes.
He was anticipating hauling some of the upcoming citrus crop and "diversifying into other types of commodities similar to its other facilities." Railex will offer guaranteed five-day service between Delano and Rotterdam, the same guarantee it offers now on the unit train it operates between its Wallula, WA, and Rotterdam terminals.
It will utilize 64-foot refrigerated ARMN railcars that are equipped with global positioning satellite tracking, fresh air exchange and temperature control. The unit trains are moved across the country by the Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation and always remain intact, which avoids shifting of products and potential time delays.
Ground was broken March 4 for the Delano facility, and Mr. Esposito said it has "been a plan of Railex since its inception."
He noted that a fourth track was recently added at its Rotterdam terminal "in anticipation of the arrival of multiple trains," and the firm is in the process of adding five rail slots and freezer facilities there as well.
Though he was not able to provide an exact timetable, Mr. Esposito said that "at some point" Railex's service will expand from two to four weekly trains into Rotterdam - two from Delano and two from Wallula - though he expected Delano to have two trains "as the season progresses."
Industry leaders in California were looking forward to the opportunities Railex will soon provide.
"I think our members are anxious to learn more about the service," Barry Bedwell, president of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, told The Produce News. "Clearly, with the rising cost of fuel and the cost to get goods across the country, everyone is turning their attention to potential cost- saving alternatives, and I think there is an interested and open mind from people in the industry."
Jim Bogart of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California told The Produce News that it was in the midst of conducting a rail feasibility study for Salinas Valley and Central Coast shippers and had toured the new Delano terminal.
"We're looking seriously at rail, and several of our members are, too, and from what I've learned thus far, I do think it has some good possibilities," Mr. Bogart said. "I think it's something certainly to follow. Let's face it, these times are tough for the industry, and they're exploring all options. I think this is a real timely development."
In addition to its guaranteed service, Railex helps reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Railex's web site, one unit train saves over 5.2 million gallons of diesel fuel and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 85,000 metric tons yearly.
Railex is also a member of the SmartWay Transportation Partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which, according to the agency's web site, "is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution," including maximizing rail efficiency, by "highlighting practical opportunities where rail can be better utilized and to encourage more efficient rail operations and technical innovation."
