COOKS RIVER INTERMODAL TERMINAL (Sydney)

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The Cooks River Rail Depot and Empty Container Park (ECP) at St Peters is one of two ECPs in Sydney with rail access.

It is an integral part of NSW Ports' strategy for increasing rail transport of containers to or from the wharves and empty container supply to regional NSW.

At Cooks River, empty containers are received from importers to be cleaned, stored and repaired before being packed or transferred to regional freight centres or re-exported.

During the 2011/12 year, work commenced on an upgrade and expansion of the Cooks River facility. This has included drainage improvements, pavement repairs and the extension of existing rail sidings to allow for trains of 600 metres in length. Two additional sidings are also under construction and will meet the new 600 metre industry port shuttle standard established by the Sydney Ports' Port Botany Rail Team.

Cooks River will be able to service entire trains on its sidings, without the need to split them. This will increase rail system capacity, including opportunities to backload from the Terminals and help achieve the NSW Government’s target of doubling mode share by 2020.

The upgrade to the Cooks River Depot also includes building additional facilities for containers to be stored on power to maintain their contents at a stable temperature.

When the project is finalised in late 2012, the maximum site capacity will increase from 11,500 to 14,500 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).

Cooks River is a key component of the port supply chain for the distribution of empty containers by rail to regional areas. The expansion of the Cooks River facility will help producers across NSW export with greater ease and efficiency. The integrated ‘Paddock to Port’ focus is providing the infrastructure to support the movement of goods and commodities from regional areas to overseas markets.