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ARiFT handles first Holyhead rail freight operation

(Posted on 28/08/18)

The Anglesey Rail intermodal freight terminal (ARiFT) in Holyhead is now operational, marine and logistics operator Armitt Group announced.

The 5.5 ha rail facility (can be expanded to 10 ha) is part of the 213 acre Orthios Logistics Hub & Eco Park site which is connected to the West Coast Main Line via the North Wales Coast Line. It is also adjacent to the A55, close to Anglesey Airport and within 2 km of Holyhead Port. The terminal can handle up to six trains per day with the maximum length of 750m. It has an 700m reception siding and two 400m handling sidings with provision for extending to 950m in the future. The site provides a storage capacity of 550 TEU laden 950 TEU empty, and is perfectly placed to support international movements.

‘Orthios ARiFT is now open and fully operational’, said Armitt Group MD Allan Seedhouse on July 27th. ‘Sitting within the wider Orthios Eco Park, ARiFT has been designed to serve Anglesey and the North Wales region, with excellent road, rail and air connections for national and international freight transport. We have an experienced team already in place and everything is designed to help companies move goods quickly and minimise supply chain downtime. Our proximity to the Freight centric port of Holyhead with its 10 daily services to and from Ireland is ready to be exploited in this time of uncertainty regarding Brexit. Whatever format Brexit takes one thing is certain, that our trade with Ireland is strong and growing and the ARiFT is perfectly placed to ease the flow on that burgeoning corridor.

Sean McCormick at Orthios group added “Orthios are delighted that the Orthios-ARiFT is now operational and ready for business. We see the range of freight moved through the ARiFT can be grown. We enjoy the support of the local council and Welsh government to expand the ARiFT which will provide the opportunity to help to relieve some of the pressure on the roads, with freight traffic being taken onto the rail network and so help alleviate congestion on the road bridges.”

Scott Lang, Rail Operations Manager at Armitt, said: “Only 7 days after our re-opening of the Orthios Anglesey Rail Freight Terminal ARiFT our first freight operation has already been completed. This initial unit of 5 passenger cars forming part of a 100 plus railcar contract was received on site, connected together in preparation for transfer to UK commissioning depots and collected by Rail Operations Group ROG for final delivery to customer.