Tuesday, 6 December 2011
"This is good news for the long-term reliability of the system, said Meira."
The navigation locks at The Dalles, John Day and Lower Monumental dams will close December 10, 2010 for major repairs, closing the dams for 14, 14, and 13 weeks respectively. Maintenance outages at McNary, Lower Granite, Ice Harbor Dam, Bonneville, Little Goose and Lower Monumental will be undertaken during this time.
River closure could impact truck traffic
River closure could impact truck trafficEverett Brazil III -- Spudman -- June 2, 2010Barge traffic along the Columbia-Snake River System is scheduled for a temporary closure at the end of 2010 for repair of locks that will maintain the long-term reliability of the river system, leaving short-term impacts on cargo transportation throughout the Northwest.
"The Portland, Ore. and Walla Walla, Wash. districts of the Army Corps of Engineers are implementing a long-term plan for major maintenance of the lock system, and the stimulus package provided enough funds for three projects to be tackled during lock closure," said Kristin Meira, government relations director for the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, Portland.
"This is good news for the long-term reliability of the system, said Meira."
The navigation locks at The Dalles, John Day and Lower Monumental dams will close December 10, 2010 for major repairs, closing the dams for 14, 14, and 13 weeks respectively. Maintenance outages at McNary, Lower Granite, Ice Harbor Dam, Bonneville, Little Goose and Lower Monumental will be undertaken during this time.
The locks will be closed from Dec. 10, 2010 to March 18, 2011, and barge traffic from the Dallles Dam to Lewiston, Ida. will be impossible, though traffic below the dam will still be passable.
"The Portland, Ore. and Walla Walla, Wash. districts of the Army Corps of Engineers are implementing a long-term plan for major maintenance of the lock system, and the stimulus package provided enough funds for three projects to be tackled during lock closure," said Kristin Meira, government relations director for the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, Portland.
"This is good news for the long-term reliability of the system, said Meira."
The navigation locks at The Dalles, John Day and Lower Monumental dams will close December 10, 2010 for major repairs, closing the dams for 14, 14, and 13 weeks respectively. Maintenance outages at McNary, Lower Granite, Ice Harbor Dam, Bonneville, Little Goose and Lower Monumental will be undertaken during this time.
The locks will be closed from Dec. 10, 2010 to March 18, 2011, and barge traffic from the Dallles Dam to Lewiston, Ida. will be impossible, though traffic below the dam will still be passable.
follow a Railex train as it hauls produce from Wallula
A History Channel program airing Tuesday night will follow a Railex train as it hauls produce from Wallula, Wash., to the company’s east coast terminus in Rotterdam.
The company’s operations will be the subject of the hour-long "Extreme Trains" episode airing at 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the History Channel’s Web site.
Paul Esposito, vice president of sales and logistics for Railex, said the episode will offer an inside look of how the company teamed with Union Pacific to move food across the country in less than five days. He said the program was filmed about three months ago and features the various techniques the company uses to keep produce fresh during its coast-to-coast journey.
“They follow it from tree to plate,” he said.
Hosted by Matt Bown, "Extreme Trains" delves into the inner workings of the railroads and the difficult conditions many work under to keep them running. In addition to featuring existing railroad services, the program examines how trains have helped shape American history
Monday, 5 December 2011
Railex is not only shipping Mid-Columbia wines to the East Coast.
Railex is not only shipping Mid-Columbia wines to the East Coast, now the company’s cold storage warehouse in Wallula has been approved as a bonded wine warehouse.Now winery customers can save money on storage, cut out extra steps in the distribution process and maintain constant safe temperatures for the wine.
Railex, a refrigerated rail transport company, offers five-day, non-stop refrigerated shipping from its Burbank warehouse to a similar facility in Rotterdam, New York. The cars are never separated or changed during the trip, which means there’s no chance of cars being left behind or product being lost. And the company provides GPS monitoring of each car, allowing customers to monitor progress and the status of the refrigeration system. Joe Fraser, Ste. Michelle’s vice president of operations and supply chain, said the winery has been using Railex for more than a year to ship its wine and now is storing wine at the facility, as well.
Previously the company used refrigerated trucks to ship hundreds of thousands of cases of wine each year to the East Coast. The company had tried traditional rail service, which is less expensive than trucking, but there were too many risk factors, Fraser said.The rail schedules were inconsistent — sometimes the wine would get to the East Coast in two weeks, other times it took four.
A railcar of wine could accidentally be left in switching yards, where the cars are transferred from train to train to reach their destination.And there was no way to track the car or know where it was when a distributor called to ask about the status of an order.Plus, the rocky ride on traditional railcars, with the cars being hooked and unhooked intermittently during the trip, requires extra packaging to prevent breakage.
These are all problems Fraser doesn’t have to worry about with Railex, which has made the five-day trek once a week since its first train left Wallula in fall 2006. During some heavy harvest periods, the company has amped up to two trains per week.And since the railcars stay linked together during the entire trip, no extra packaging is needed. The company can ship the wine in the same packaging it uses on semi-trucks.
Less packaging saves the company money and means less waste and a smaller carbon footprint, something that’s very important to the company, Fraser said. About a million cases of Ste. Michelle wines will be loaded onto Railex trains this year, he said.And, although it still takes a lot of fuel to get the wine to its destination, fewer trucks are on the road.
Produce News that South African citrus importers had “been proactive to get involved with Railex
In mid-July, Mr. Welker told The Produce News that South African citrus importers had “been proactive to get involved with Railex,” and are using the Railex system as it was intended to be used, as “a forward deployment platform. This enables [the importers’] customers to order one day out, and this way the customers don’t order more than they need,” he said.
Mr. Welker noted that South African importers’ customers can order less than truckload or full loads depending on their needs, and Railex’s contract transportation will deliver up and down the West Coast.“We can go from British Columbia to San Diego,” he said. “We are changing long-haul trucks to short-haul trucks.”
“The South Africans and their importers are working toward the long term goals of building a program that lessens the impact of food miles and expands their distribution radius, which will ultimately lead to the goal of greater long term profitability,” he added.
Railex service delivers South African citrus to West Coast terminals by train
Railex service delivers South African citrus to West Coast terminals by train
Joel Gebet -- The Produce News -- July 29, 2010
South African citrus is making its way to the West Coast this year in large volumes for the first time in the decade that it has been exported to the United States, and Railex LLC is playing a major part in the logistics enabling this to take place.
Railex, a division of Riverhead, NY based ADS Management LLC, is known for its four refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals in Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA, and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY, weekly.
This year, importers of South African citrus are utilizing Railex’s trains to move their product as the trains make their return trips back to their respective terminals on the West Coast.
“2010 is the first time in the 11 years we have been exporting to the United States that we will be able to extend our geographic footprint to include the West Coast,” Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum Chairman Gerrit van der Merwe said in a press release issued in late May. “An arrangement with Railex will enable retailers to have our fruit available and consumers to enjoy our citrus within six days of leaving the port in Philadelphia.”
“The advantages to the WCCPF and their importers are significant as it opens new markets for them from San Diego through Portland to Seattle, as well as the inland cities.” Bill Welker, Railex’s vice president of national accounts, said in the release.
Railex, a division of Riverhead, NY based ADS Management LLC, is known for its four refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals in Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA, and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY, weekly.
This year, importers of South African citrus are utilizing Railex’s trains to move their product as the trains make their return trips back to their respective terminals on the West Coast.
“2010 is the first time in the 11 years we have been exporting to the United States that we will be able to extend our geographic footprint to include the West Coast,” Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum Chairman Gerrit van der Merwe said in a press release issued in late May. “An arrangement with Railex will enable retailers to have our fruit available and consumers to enjoy our citrus within six days of leaving the port in Philadelphia.”
“The advantages to the WCCPF and their importers are significant as it opens new markets for them from San Diego through Portland to Seattle, as well as the inland cities.” Bill Welker, Railex’s vice president of national accounts, said in the release.
Blue Ribbon using Railex to its advantage
Blue Ribbon using Railex to its advantage
Lora Abcarian -- http://www.theproducenews.com -- January 21, 2008
According to David Darrington, marketing and sales manager for Blue Ribbon Produce LLC in Quincy, WA, the company has been able to take advantage of the Railex transportation network to move fresh potatoes.
"We have done some [shipments] with Railex," he told The Produce News. "The customers really like it. I hope [the service] gets patronized enough that it’s a success."
Blue Ribbon produces Norkotahs for both domestic and export markets.
According to Mr. Darrington, Railex service has helped move some product into the eastern United States, opening a new marketing zone.
"It’s a quick train," Mr. Darrington said. "It’s out [from Washington] on Thursdays and in [New York] on Tuesdays." A distinct advantage when compared to trucking is that product can actually be delivered to customers faster when weather is bad, he stated.
This season, Blue Ribbon has been marketing high-quality, large- profile fresh potatoes. Yields were good this season, he said, and marketing of the current crop will conclude next month.
Potato movement is split evenly between domestic and export. "We’ve got pretty good Canadian business," Mr. Darrington stated. Exports also move into the Pacific Rim. The majority of product is sold to wholesalers and foodservice.
"We have done some [shipments] with Railex," he told The Produce News. "The customers really like it. I hope [the service] gets patronized enough that it’s a success."
Blue Ribbon produces Norkotahs for both domestic and export markets.
According to Mr. Darrington, Railex service has helped move some product into the eastern United States, opening a new marketing zone.
"It’s a quick train," Mr. Darrington said. "It’s out [from Washington] on Thursdays and in [New York] on Tuesdays." A distinct advantage when compared to trucking is that product can actually be delivered to customers faster when weather is bad, he stated.
This season, Blue Ribbon has been marketing high-quality, large- profile fresh potatoes. Yields were good this season, he said, and marketing of the current crop will conclude next month.
Potato movement is split evenly between domestic and export. "We’ve got pretty good Canadian business," Mr. Darrington stated. Exports also move into the Pacific Rim. The majority of product is sold to wholesalers and foodservice.
Railex Passes SQF Certification with Superior Rating
Railex Passes SQF Certification with Superior Rating
-- January 4, 2010Railex was recently certified by the Safe Quality Food Institute. (SQF)
Our company is committed to ensuring maximum food safety and quality standards for our customers. Certification under the Safe Quality Food (SQF) program provides assurance that products are handled in accordance with the highest possible quality and safety principles in compliance with current food safety regulations. Utilizing an independent 3rd party auditing process, Railex operations have attained an SQF 2000 "superior" ranking based on HACCP methods and principles. SQF certification is broad-based, covering all aspects of sanitation, product traceability, employee training, using approved suppliers, and all aspects related to product receiving, storage, and shipping.
Our facilities, systems, and staff are all aligned to protect the product that moves through our supply chain.
Our company is committed to ensuring maximum food safety and quality standards for our customers. Certification under the Safe Quality Food (SQF) program provides assurance that products are handled in accordance with the highest possible quality and safety principles in compliance with current food safety regulations. Utilizing an independent 3rd party auditing process, Railex operations have attained an SQF 2000 "superior" ranking based on HACCP methods and principles. SQF certification is broad-based, covering all aspects of sanitation, product traceability, employee training, using approved suppliers, and all aspects related to product receiving, storage, and shipping.
Our facilities, systems, and staff are all aligned to protect the product that moves through our supply chain.
Friday, 25 November 2011
"RailEx -- The FedEx of Rail Shipping
This is an excerpt taken from the "Growth Guy", Weekly insights from Verne Harnish, the syndicated "Growth Guy" columnist bringing the resources, articles, trends, and best practices for growing leaders of growing companies.
"RailEx -- The FedEx of Rail Shipping -- speaking of trains (and maybe why Buffett made his investment), the company that most intrigues me is RailEx. Launched in 2006 and founded by Andy Pollack, whose family has been in the produce distribution business for decades, RailEx is doing for refrigerated produce what FedEx did for overnight packages, right now linking the east and west coasts of the U.S. Requiring a $58 million start-up investment in partnership with two major railroads, Union Pacific and CSX Transportation, RailEx, dubbed the "Fresh Express", promises to transform the way we ship most products, using a hub and spoke system of warehouses, trains, and local trucks, eliminating the need for long haul trucks and the damage they cause highways. I can't wait for them to go public!"
"RailEx -- The FedEx of Rail Shipping -- speaking of trains (and maybe why Buffett made his investment), the company that most intrigues me is RailEx. Launched in 2006 and founded by Andy Pollack, whose family has been in the produce distribution business for decades, RailEx is doing for refrigerated produce what FedEx did for overnight packages, right now linking the east and west coasts of the U.S. Requiring a $58 million start-up investment in partnership with two major railroads, Union Pacific and CSX Transportation, RailEx, dubbed the "Fresh Express", promises to transform the way we ship most products, using a hub and spoke system of warehouses, trains, and local trucks, eliminating the need for long haul trucks and the damage they cause highways. I can't wait for them to go public!"
Friday, 11 November 2011
Railex offers third weekly run from West Coast to New York
Railex service delivers South African citrus to West Coast terminals by train
Joel Gebet -- The Produce News -- July 29, 2010
South African citrus is making its way to the West Coast this year in large volumes for the first time in the decade that it has been exported to the United States, and Railex LLC is playing a major part in the logistics enabling this to take place.
Railex, a division of Riverhead, NY based ADS Management LLC, is known for its four refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals in Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA, and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY, weekly.
This year, importers of South African citrus are utilizing Railex’s trains to move their product as the trains make their return trips back to their respective terminals on the West Coast.
“2010 is the first time in the 11 years we have been exporting to the United States that we will be able to extend our geographic footprint to include the West Coast,” Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum Chairman Gerrit van der Merwe said in a press release issued in late May. “An arrangement with Railex will enable retailers to have our fruit available and consumers to enjoy our citrus within six days of leaving the port in Philadelphia.”
“The advantages to the WCCPF and their importers are significant as it opens new markets for them from San Diego through Portland to Seattle, as well as the inland cities.” Bill Welker, Railex’s vice president of national accounts, said in the release.
In mid-July, Mr. Welker told The Produce News that South African citrus importers had “been proactive to get involved with Railex,” and are using the Railex system as it was intended to be used, as “a forward deployment platform. This enables [the importers’] customers to order one day out, and this way the customers don’t order more than they need,” he said
.
Railex, a division of Riverhead, NY based ADS Management LLC, is known for its four refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals in Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA, and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY, weekly.
This year, importers of South African citrus are utilizing Railex’s trains to move their product as the trains make their return trips back to their respective terminals on the West Coast.
“2010 is the first time in the 11 years we have been exporting to the United States that we will be able to extend our geographic footprint to include the West Coast,” Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum Chairman Gerrit van der Merwe said in a press release issued in late May. “An arrangement with Railex will enable retailers to have our fruit available and consumers to enjoy our citrus within six days of leaving the port in Philadelphia.”
“The advantages to the WCCPF and their importers are significant as it opens new markets for them from San Diego through Portland to Seattle, as well as the inland cities.” Bill Welker, Railex’s vice president of national accounts, said in the release.
In mid-July, Mr. Welker told The Produce News that South African citrus importers had “been proactive to get involved with Railex,” and are using the Railex system as it was intended to be used, as “a forward deployment platform. This enables [the importers’] customers to order one day out, and this way the customers don’t order more than they need,” he said
.
Railex Now Operating Four Trains A Week From West Coast
The food distributor has begun operating two round trips a week between Wallula, Washington and its warehouse in Rotterdam Industrial Park, plus another two round trips a week between Delano, Calif., and Rotterdam.
The company at last count had nearly 200 employees.
The trains are a joint operaton of Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation. While much of the produce has moved from west to east, Railex actively seeks products from the East Coast to send back on the trains.
The appeal of this mode of transport: Each train can replace 200 or more trucks, and reduces consumption of diesel fuel by 100,000 gallons or more, Railex says.
Railex began operating its first train in October 2006.
Railex LLC is looking to expand service into the southeastern and central United States
Railex LLC is looking to expand service into the southeastern and central United States.
Paul Esposito, Railex's Northeast division and corporate logistics vice president, made the announcement March 26 during an Internet-based presentation by the firm, which is a division of Riverhead, NY-based ADS Management.
"We have plans to expand Railex into the Southeast and into the Central portion of the United States, and ultimately into Texas and to export," Mr. Esposito said.
Railex currently operates four weekly refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY. Two of the trains depart from its Wallula, WA, freight forward distribution terminal, and the remaining two depart from its freight forward distribution terminal in Delano, CA.
Railex offers guaranteed five-day service from both the Delano and Wallula terminals to Schenectady, which is located just west of Albany, NY.
Although Railex has "struggled through the economy like other industries have," Mr. Esposito said that the firm still has "some very, very aggressive growth programs. It is our hope and our goal to at least be into the southeastern section of the United States by either late this year or early next year."
While he did not mention specific cities, Mr. Esposito said that Railex was looking at "getting into southern Georgia or northern Florida."
He said that Railex is also "currently in negotiations and looking at services into the Central portion of the United States, either in Chicago, St. Louis or Memphis."
South African citrus to be shipped on Railex cars
South African citrus to be shipped on Railex cars
South African citrus will be more readily available west of the Mississippi this summer, thanks to an agreement between the industry and a leading produce rail service.
Andy Nelson -- The Packer -- May 28, 2010
Riverhead, N.Y. based Railex LLC will ship South African citrus west from the East Coast, according to a news release from the Citrusdal, South Africa-based Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum.
Western retailers will have South African fruit six days after it reaches the Port of Philadelphia, according to the release.
In 2009, South African citrus sales from the Midwest and West made up about 35% of the industry’s U.S. total, according to the forum.
For 2010, officials expect it to be 50% of all sales.
Railex ships fruits and vegetables back and forth from Delano, Calif., and Wallula, Wash., and Rotterdam, N.Y.
Western retailers will have South African fruit six days after it reaches the Port of Philadelphia, according to the release.
In 2009, South African citrus sales from the Midwest and West made up about 35% of the industry’s U.S. total, according to the forum.
For 2010, officials expect it to be 50% of all sales.
Railex ships fruits and vegetables back and forth from Delano, Calif., and Wallula, Wash., and Rotterdam, N.Y.
Railex service delivers South African citrus to West Coast terminals by train
Railex service delivers South African citrus to West Coast terminals by train
Joel Gebet -- The Produce News -- July 29, 2010
South African citrus is making its way to the West Coast this year in large volumes for the first time in the decade that it has been exported to the United States, and Railex LLC is playing a major part in the logistics enabling this to take place.
Railex, a division of Riverhead, NY based ADS Management LLC, is known for its four refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals in Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA, and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY, weekly.
This year, importers of South African citrus are utilizing Railex’s trains to move their product as the trains make their return trips back to their respective terminals on the West Coast.
“2010 is the first time in the 11 years we have been exporting to the United States that we will be able to extend our geographic footprint to include the West Coast,” Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum Chairman Gerrit van der Merwe said in a press release issued in late May. “An arrangement with Railex will enable retailers to have our fruit available and consumers to enjoy our citrus within six days of leaving the port in Philadelphia.”
“The advantages to the WCCPF and their importers are significant as it opens new markets for them from San Diego through Portland to Seattle, as well as the inland cities.” Bill Welker, Railex’s vice president of national accounts, said in the release.
In mid-July, Mr. Welker told The Produce News that South African citrus importers had “been proactive to get involved with Railex,” and are using the Railex system as it was intended to be used, as “a forward deployment platform. This enables [the importers’] customers to order one day out, and this way the customers don’t order more than they need,” he said.
Railex, a division of Riverhead, NY based ADS Management LLC, is known for its four refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart from its West Coast terminals in Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA, and terminate on the East Coast at its terminal in Schenectady, NY, weekly.
This year, importers of South African citrus are utilizing Railex’s trains to move their product as the trains make their return trips back to their respective terminals on the West Coast.
“2010 is the first time in the 11 years we have been exporting to the United States that we will be able to extend our geographic footprint to include the West Coast,” Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum Chairman Gerrit van der Merwe said in a press release issued in late May. “An arrangement with Railex will enable retailers to have our fruit available and consumers to enjoy our citrus within six days of leaving the port in Philadelphia.”
“The advantages to the WCCPF and their importers are significant as it opens new markets for them from San Diego through Portland to Seattle, as well as the inland cities.” Bill Welker, Railex’s vice president of national accounts, said in the release.
In mid-July, Mr. Welker told The Produce News that South African citrus importers had “been proactive to get involved with Railex,” and are using the Railex system as it was intended to be used, as “a forward deployment platform. This enables [the importers’] customers to order one day out, and this way the customers don’t order more than they need,” he said.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Refrigerated Transportation - Freight Forwarding distribution solutions
Refrigerated transport is highly recommended for perishable horticultural produce. Temperature management is key parameter during long distance succesful transport. Average road temperatures can be much higher than air temperatures during hot months of the year, thus offering challenges for refrigerated vehicles to maintain recommended temperatures.
Railex, a state-of-the-art, refrigerated unit train that offers coast-to-coast rail transit in 5 days is revolutionizing the <a href="http://www.railexusa.com" target="_blank">refrigerated transportation</a> and logistics services in all commodity based industries. Railex's platform provides inventory visibility, reliability as well as optimum handling and sustainable solutions to manage your supply chain.
Railex Benefits:
Freight forward distribution offers free temperature controlled storage and door to door service. With a non-stop schedule and multi-stop pick up Railex takes the hassle out of logistics.Consolidation capabilities eliminate expensive <a href="http://www.railexusa.com" target="_blank">refrigerated transportation</a> blankets.Separate computer controlled temperature zones during storage and in transit enable the simultaneous shipment of mixed commodities.The Railex unit train stays intact so your product avoids shifting, temperature issues and time delays, resulting in a less traumatic transit.Unmatched capacity. Railex can accommodate TL and LTL "Less Than Truckload" shipments.
Railex offers further inventory transparency with traceability through RF infrastructure and technology. Every pallet is labeled and barcoded and can be tracked via our GPS system so you always have real-time access to your inventory.
1 Call does it all – with Railex you're only ever 1 phone call away from the long list of Railex's superior services and equipment. Railex has the ability to isolate your products, providing a temperature controlled journey with fresh air exchange.5 day rail transit schedule and expedited short-haul delivery ensure that your product arrives on-time.At Railex our top priority is not only timely delivery but also the quality of your final product. We go the extra mile to inspect your product at both origin and destination to be absolutely certain that your customers are receiving the superior value that they are accustomed to.
Railex state-of-the-art storage facilities and temperature controlled unit trains have the ability to maintain a -20° environment. Railcars are loaded and unloaded inside a cooled facility, never breaking the cold chain. 24 hour security monitored facility Camera surveillance and digital video recording Sealed box cars Security system with Prox card restricted access Facilities are AIB, SQF, and HACCP certified
As a further safety precaution Railex has $2 million in cargo insurance.
In order to help regulate the life of your products Railex offers multi-ethylene zones.Railex's sustainable solutions provide reduced transportation and infrastructure costs. MyRailex web-enabled, real time, state-of-the-art information system offers visibility with access to your personalized and secure virtual warehouse. This online suite helps integrate order process, <a href="http://www.railexusa.com" target="_blank">refrigerated transportation</a>, lot identification and warehousing, while minimizing administration time and total logistical costs.
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