New freight flow Ballina to Waterford

[spudfan]

Iarnród Éireann has begun transporting containers of medical products from Ballina to Waterford for Baxter Healthcare and XPO Logistics. Planning is underway for a rail connection to the Baxter Healthcare site in Castlebar, with traffic envisaged at more than 20 containers/day. ‘We know Baxter and others are ambitious to do more, which is why our Rail Freight 2040 Strategy envisages a five-fold increase in rail freight services’, said Glenn Carr, IÉ’s Director of Commercial Business Units. ‘We are working with industry, logistics companies, and government agencies to develop the infrastructure and ensure the policy framework exists to meet this demand.’

Taken from World rail freight news round-up | News | Railway Gazette International

[MOGUL]

It's not a new freight flow, it's just 6-8 export loads a week from Baxter to Waterford using the existing XPO train instead of going by road to Dublin..

The article seems to be based off the PR

Edited June 23, 2023 by MOGUL

[StevieB]

Surely it’s a new freight flow by rail.
 

Stephen

[MOGUL]

6 minutes ago, StevieB said:

Surely it’s a new freight flow by rail.
 

Stephen

Not really, DFDS and IWT have both also transported Baxter loads by rail at various times over the past few years

[spudfan]

What I got from this is the following.

It may not be a "new" flow per se but with the volume of 20 containers a day it would be a dedicated stand alone flow. Also the rail connection to the company's premises implies a steady flow of traffic.

[MOGUL]

6 hours ago, spudfan said:

What I got from this is the following.

It may not be a "new" flow per se but with the volume of 20 containers a day it would be a dedicated stand alone flow. Also the rail connection to the company's premises implies a steady flow of traffic.

The 20 a day figureis misconstrued, the Baxter’s supply chain manager mentioned it but it is their total output, not what is moving with XPO/Samskip.. Most goes via Dublin with ECS and DFDs, both using road haulage..Obviously the proportion may change if the depot in Castlebar gets built 

[DJ Dangerous]

On 23/6/2023 at 10:27 PM, MOGUL said:

Not really, DFDS and IWT have both also transported Baxter loads by rail at various times over the past few years

In what containers???

[MOGUL]

14 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

In what containers???

DFDS used their own, both dry and reefers(require in winter months to prevent freezing)..

IWT hauled for BG and also some CLDNs 

Edited June 25, 2023 by MOGUL

[DJ Dangerous]

What will the "rail connection" look like?

[MOGUL]

22 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

What will the "rail connection" look like?

Castlebar has no loop, so would need to include some form of Runaround.. Likely two sidings off the UP side with a facing point on the Dublin side of Castlebar.. Cunninghams yard is close to the line and already has a reach stacker in operation..

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brian-cunningham-669940b7_a-massive-thanks-to-everyone-at-harrington-activity-6866470744340123649-11ca?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop