Containers for Baxter Healthcare being loaded onto the Iarnród Éireann XPO Logistics freight train, which operates twice weekly between Ballina and Port of Waterford.
Iarnród Éireann has welcomed the decision by Baxter Healthcare in Castlebar to begin the shipping of product by rail freight.
As part of a move to a more sustainable supply chain, Baxter will move lifesaving medical products by container from Iarnród Éireann’s Ballina freight facility to the Port of Waterford on the twice weekly service operated with XPO Logistics. From there, the products will be distributed to destinations in mainland Europe, the Nordics and Turkey.
Iarnród Éireann has said the move by a leading company like Baxter Healthcare is indicative of the appetite from industry for sustainable supply chain alternatives.
The company’s director of commercial business units, Glenn Carr, said: “We warmly welcome Baxter Healthcare’s decision to begin moving containers with our Ballina to Waterford service, operated in partnership with XPO Logistics. There is significant demand from industry for sustainable transport alternatives, and rail freight can deliver that alternative.
“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. We are working with industry, logistics companies and government agencies to develop the infrastructure and ensure the policy framework exists to meet this demand.
“Baxter Healthcare are already examining the possibilities which the forthcoming rail link to Shannon Foynes Port, funded by the Department of Transport, will deliver, as are many other potential customers.”
Baxter International has ambitions to ultimately transport over 20 containers daily, and to transport by rail directly from Castlebar, as one of Iarnród Éireann’s proposed inland freight hubs under the Rail Freight 2040 strategy.
James Jordan, head of planning and logistics with Baxter Healthcare Castlebar, commented: “Carbon neutrality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a cornerstone of Baxter’s global sustainability goals and a key expectation of our global customer base. A key step in achieving these goals is reducing the environmental impact of our supply chain by improving the way we transport our materials and finished products.
“This move to rail freight marks a key milestone in Baxter Castlebar and Baxter Swinford’s programme to improve our sustainability by reducing carbon emissions throughout our supply chain. It was made possible by close partnership with Iarnród Eireann, XPO Logistics and Brian Cunningham Transport to open the route for rail shipments from Ballina to Waterford Port.
“Our next goals are to connect to rail at Castlebar Railway Station, adjacent to the Castlebar site, and transport more than 20 containers daily via the Western Rail Corridor connecting Castlebar to port.
“The development of an inland rail freight hub at Castlebar and the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor are key infrastructure enablers to support this drive to sustainability and will be fully supported by Baxter and other local businesses in the area.”
Dan Myers, managing director for UK and Ireland with XPO Logistics, added: “Expanding our use of rail freight is just one way we are cutting our CO2 emissions along with our partners. The ability to work with Baxter Healthcare and Iarnród Éireann to implement this at the Ballina freight terminal is a great start. But when we can access the inland rail freight hub at Castlebar right next to the Baxter Healthcare site, we can take the CO2 reductions across our joint operations to the next level.”
The Ballina to Port of Waterford service, jointly provided with XPO Logistics, commenced in June 2021 and offers a twice weekly service in each direction. It permits over 5,000 truck movements a year to switch from road to rail, with a resulting reduction in road congestion and 75% reduction in emissions per unit.