Unlocking new transport network potential

Coda adds rail to Savill Drive unlocking new transport network potential

Monday 30 May 2016

Coda adds rail to Savill Drive unlocking new transport network potential

· Moving the equivalent of 8,000 truckloads of cargo by rail, each year

· 4,000 tonnes of carbon savings - equivalent of planting over 100,000 trees

Coda Group, the country’s leading freight management business, has welcomed the first rail wagons to its existing Savill Drive freight hub, in Auckland, creating one of New Zealand’s largest fully intermodal freight hubs.

Coda Chief Executive Scott Brownlee said the Coda intermodal freight hub will provide a consolidation point to bring together export, import and domestic cargo flows into one single location.

“Achieving rail connectivity at Savill Drive is a key milestone in the development of a more efficient transport network for the North Island. Traditionally separate, these three flows of cargo will now come together for the first time in one place and link to multiple transport modes including road, rail and coastal shipping,” said Mr Brownlee.

“The intermodal freight hub and supporting network also increases the landside logistics capability required to service larger ships that will soon visit New Zealand.”

The access to rail was possible with the development of a new 10,000 sqm intermodal yard. Work will soon start on a 4,950 sqm warehouse extension and a 6,500 sqm freight canopy with a second rail siding.

KiwiRail Chief Executive, Peter Reidy, said Coda is an example of a logistics business working to better utilise New Zealand’s transport and infrastructure assets. KiwiRail offers New Zealand supply chain and transport operators the best landside logistics solution in cost, fuel and carbon efficiency.

“We are pleased to partner with Coda as they invest in assets and collaborative partnerships which support the growth of New Zealand businesses and in turn this brings significant benefits to the country,” said Mr Reidy.

Coda’s operation has already seen more than 2,000 southbound heavy vehicle trips be moved from roads onto rail, over the past year. By 2017, the Coda intermodal freight hub will consolidate and move by rail, the equivalent of 8,000 heavy vehicle trips of cargo. Each year this will save over 1.5 million litres of fuel and 4,000 tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to planting just over 100,000 tree seedlings, grown for 10 years*.

“The expansion will more than triple the capacity of the existing Coda rail offering between Auckland and Palmerston North, providing further opportunities for lower North Island exporters to access the two main ports in the North Island. The site is also strategically located to most major domestic manufacturers and distributors who move product around the country on a daily basis,” said Mr Brownlee.

Coda has also introduced its own range of bespoke fully intermodal 25-foot curtain-sided containers to meet customer requirements.

“By working together with our customers and partners, we are delivering fresh, innovative logistics solutions which will provide better matching of freight flows up and down the North Island. Our intermodal containers take imported and domestic freight southbound, Auckland to Palmerston North on the main truck line, and are then loaded with exports northbound to create a fully utilised rail loop. This improves efficiencies for the entire North Island supply chain,” said Mr Brownlee.

The Coda intermodal freight hub, Auckland, will be fully operational by December 2016 to provide a full logistics solution which includes transport, product warehousing, cross-dock facilities, container loading and devanning, container storage and hire. In 2017, a final stage development will see a new 7,360 sqm warehouse with additional freight canopy.

ENDS

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