Victoria’s newest rail freight terminal – the QUBE Ultima Intermodal Terminal is now officially open.
The terminal, which will be used for exporting Victorian Hay to Asia, is expected to remove 4,000 truck trips annually from Victorian roads.
Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp, said, “The new Ultima Intermodal Terminal is a great asset for the local community – creating jobs and also moving more freight onto rail.”
Hay from local farms is compressed and loaded into containers at the northern Victorian facility. The containers are then put on a train and taken to the Port of Melbourne for export to Asia.
QUBE Managing Director, Maurice James, said, “QUBE is proud to be delivering jobs for the Mallee and taking trucks off the road through our significant $3.65 million joint venture investment in the Ultima Intermodal Terminal.
“Already two trains a week are using this terminal to provide integrated rail solutions to the intermodal and bulk markets, and we hope to expand this when more local products become available later this summer.”
The export operations coincides with the Victorian Government’s $23 million upgrade of the Manangatang freight line.
The upgrade saw sleepers replaced over a 90km section of the line in the Ultima region by V/Line. Track formation was also improved with new ballast aimed to improve the ride quality for trains.
Two trains a week currently service the Ultima facility, but it’s expected that will expand to three or four trains a week.
Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne, said, “The $23 million upgrade of the Manangatang freight line is making it safer and more efficient for trains to carry hay and grain to port.”
QUBE, Pentarch Agricultural and Pickering Transport invested $3.65 million in the facility which has delivered a jobs boost for the small Mallee town.
Pentarch markets Australian oaten hay, cottonseed and other grain internationally and the new facility will generate millions of dollars in new exports to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.
