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Containerising fruit non-stop from Washington state to Chicago

Mar 30, 2010 Logistics

THE Port of Quincy's intermodal service is to launch a cold train service for perishables on April 1 for the PNW-Chicagoland Express Intermodal Service that can cover more than 2,000 miles in four days against a lengthier truck alternative.

Tree growers and fruit farmers of the Columbia River Basin will benefit from the service run by Kansas-based Rail Logistics in not only reducing time but avoiding excessive handling.

The Monday-Friday reefer FEU service will move apples, cherries, frozen potato products and other central Washington state produce to Chicago, where it will be distributed throughout the Midwest averaging 50,000 pounds per FEU reefer container.

Charles Pomianek, executive director of the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association, which represents grower and shippers in Washington said that the unloading and loading of produce once only is important for delicate fruit.

Mr Pomianek was quoted in the Salem, Oregon's Capital press report as saying: "If the receiver can get his product on time in good condition, I think there's a great opportunity for this programme to grow."

Mr Pomianek also said that customers within 150 miles of Chicago can take eight to 12 million cartons of Washington tree fruit annually, the equivalent of 8,000 to 10,000 FEU truckloads.

Rail Logistics president Mike Lerner said it is already up to capacity but it is keeping with 71 FEU, and in phase two will build up to 350 FEU by the third quarter with following phases in increments of 70 FEU. "Right now, we have an embarrassment of riches. We have to decide which customers we can take."

Rail Logistics, which owns or leases 1,200 rail cars and has 10 employees, hopes its Cold Train will do pickup and deliveries to other locations in Washington, including Seattle, Yakima and the Tri-Cities and as far as Portland.

(Source: www.schednet.com)
 

 
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