The newsletter for Watco Companies September 2019, Volume 20, Issue 9 Australia's IMG helps meet rail target for intermodal shipments by Tracie VanBecelaere The Forrestfield Intermodal Termi- Managing Editor nal (FIT) and the North Quay Rail Terminal (NQRT) at Fremantle’s Watco’s jointly owned Intermodal Inner Harbour. The NQRT achieved Group (IMG) recently helped hit a a record-breaking month, process- rail target of 20% containers on rail ing more than 14,300 containers at Western Australia’s Fremantle for both import and export in July. Port. Congestion is becoming an This is the highest volume recorded issue in the city due to large truck by IMG since it commenced opera- numbers moving in and out of the tions at NQRT in 2007. Container Port. To counteract this problem, volumes at FIT were also at record the State Government introduced a levels in July, with more than 10,000 subsidy for rail freight that moves containers contributed to the short- through the Fremantle Port Authori- haul rail shuttle service. ty’s (state government owned) North “Attracting more container Quay Rail Terminal. volumes onto rail is a key focus IMG’s focus on moving contain- for IMG and will only be achieved ers by rail resulted in achieving the with the continued support of our State Government’s 20% target in Customers and key stakeholders,” Containers are railed in and out of Fremantle Port, a project encour- 2018-2019. This is an increase from said Grant Thompson, IMG Chair aged by the government in an effort to reduce congested areas of around 11 percent in 2009-2010 or, and Watco Australia CEO. “As the Perth and reduce the wear and tear of the big trucks on the city road- according to government calcula- current operator of NQRT and as- ways. Photo by Chase Gunnoe tions, the equivalent to removing sociated FIT, we are proud to work from FIT. IMG is the exclusive packing the containers for CBH. 110,000 one-way truck trip move- with our Customers to be an active operator of NQRT and has intro- In addition, the recently an- ments. Moving this traffic to rail contributor in attracting more freight duced efficiencies during the past 12 nounced IMG partnership with not only eases the congestion and on rail and reducing truck traffic on months that have resulted in regular Qube Logistics has started to pro- improves road safety, it also reduces roads around Fremantle Port.” triple daily return services between duce results, with container volumes wear and tear on the city roads. Approximately 80 percent of the FIT and NQRT. The majority of the beginning to transfer from road to IMG operates two terminals volumes currently received at NQRT services have been export containers rail. IMG is confident this partner- served by our Watco WA Rail Team. are transported by IMG’s rail service due to a strong grain season, but the ship will result in more import and team has focused on increasing the export container volumes moving import containers as well, making on rail, which will underpin the full trips both in and out of the Port. growth required to achieve the State Thompson said: “We have worked Government’s ultimate rail target of closely with our Customers to 30%. achieve record growth in container IMG provides services seven numbers through NQRT over the days a week and has the ability to past 12 months. These outstanding provide services around-the-clock volumes are the result of the current if needed. Currently, there is not a State Government’s support to en- consistent need, but IMG is flexible courage more freight on rail through and willing to operate as Customer the container port rail subsidy, need demands. Right now, there are strong demand for WA agricultural 20 IMG team members at NQRT, exports and initiatives implemented 47 IMG team members providing by IMG to attract and retain Cus- service at FIT. tomers on the port rail service.” “The excellent service provided CBH Group was Watco’s first by these team members and help- Customer in Australia and they are ing achieve the State Government’s a part of the successes IMG has ex- 20% port rail freight target, has The Intermodal Group Team handles numerous containers and perienced at the Port. FIT sits right positioned IMG extremely well to helped the state government reach a goal of moving more than 20 next to a CBH’s Metro Grain Center continuing as the preferred opera- percent of the containers at Freemantle Port by rail. and the team not only moves export tor at NQRT for another term,” said Photo by Chase Gunnoe grain containers, they also assist in Thompson. Savannah & Old Fort Railroad excited to serve Georgia Customers by Tracie VanBecelaere Managing Editor On August 30, Watco's first short line in the state of Georgia began delivering cars to Customers along the Savannah River. the line have an impact internation- The Savannah & Old Fort Rail- ally, one example of this is the line's road (SVHO) is a 6.45-mile long top Customer, Georgia Biomass. line that connects with the CSX at They bring in wood pellets that are Southover Yard, which lies south shipped to Germany and are used in of the river. The railroad was given the operations of a power plant. the name as a nod to Old Fort James Other large Customers on the line Jackson, which lies one mile east include Southern States Chemicals of Savannah. Old Fort Jackson was and Argos. constructed between 1808 and 1812 Thrall said, "In addition to the to protect Savannah from attack by current Customers, we're already in the sea. It was one of three Confed- talks on some other big projects and WAMX 4014 is decorated with the Savannah & Old Fort Railroad logo and erate forts that protected Savannah are focused on growing the busi- ready to serve Watco's newest Customers in Savannah, Georgia. The rail- during the civil war until the Union ness, both with new and our current road celebrated its first day of service on August 30. army captured the city by land. Customers." The railroad delivers a variety of There were approximately 15,470 commodities to terminal operators cars shipped on the line but Thrall along the river. Although there are feels that with our experienced eight Customers on the line, there team, there are opportunities to are 29 different Customers who our grow that number. Customers deliver to. Terence Snell is serving as the "I've had some of the Customers general manager of the railroad. He reach out to me and commend our joined the Watco Team nine years team on how they have communi- ago and was a conductor with the cated with the Customers on the line Vicksburg Southern, a trainmas- and reached out to teach them the ter for the Baton Rouge Southern various tools that are available to aid Railroad and the general manager the Customers in setting up ship- of the Bogalusa Bayou Railroad. He ments, and ordering and tracking is excited to be back in Savannah, cars," said Rob Thrall, VP of busi- where he is from originally. ness development. "They've been Other team members include Jef- The red lines in the map above indicate the route the Savannah & Old Fort very appreciative of how proactive frey Infinger, conductor/engineer Railroad (SVHO) will take when delivering cars to Customers along the they are in getting things set up and Paul Mitchell, conductor; Jasper Savannah River. Approximately 29 different Customers will be receiving ready for them to use on day one." Nail, roadmaster; Christopher products at the terminals served by the SVHO. A ten-year agreement was signed Odom, conductor; Donald Robert, with CSX to operate the line with CMO; Eric Smith, conductor/engi- Ron Spencer, commercial direc- without fail." growth obligations built into the neer, Montel Stanley, conductor/en- tor, said, "This was a very smooth The team got off to an interesting agreement that could expand the gineer, and Daryle Rogers, conduc- and successful start-up that allowed start as only a few days after start- length of the contract. tor/engineer. Another team member, us to have all Customers switched up, they had to tie things down and Because of its connectivity to the Jared Costello, conductor/engineer, within the first 24 hours of opera- secure them and then shut down for river accessing the Atlantic Ocean, will be joining the team in a couple tion. All departments pulled together a few days to prepare for Hurricane the commodities that are shipped on of weeks. and performed their assigned tasks Dorian. Watco Team Members participate in back to school supply drives Two Watco locations were all about giving back during back to school. The Pittsburg (KS) and Overland Park (KS) Teams partici- pated in separate events to provide underprivileged kids with school supplies. The Pittsburg Team donated enough supplies to fill 20 backpacks and helped the community "stuff the bus" full of back- packs. The Overland Park office donated more than 40 backpacks filled with supplies to the FOX 4 Love Fund’s Back to School Bash. Thanks to both teams, many school kids will be able to have what they need to start their school year off right. Left photo: Pittsburg Team Member Cassie Bicknell helps stuff the bus with donated supplies. Right photo: Carter Kallenbach, son of Overland Park Team Member Cori Kallenbach, helps pick out sup- plies to donate to the Fox 4 Love's Fund Back to School Bash. 2 • The Dispatch • September 2019 Alabama Warrior receives President's Award for safety by Tracie VanBecelaere mitted themselves to coming to work and not put- Managing Editor ting themselves in position to injure themselves or anybody else,” Anthony Hoyte, general man- The Alabama Warrior Railroad (ABWR) was ager, said.