Rail talk

Rail Logistics seeks feedback for scope of work

QUINCY — Shippers and processors frustrated with rail line complications got a little chance to vent Thursday.

About 30 people gathered at Port of Quincy headquarters for an afternoon meeting in which Rail Logistics, LC, shared details of the state's recent letter of intent to contract with the Overland Park, Kan.-based company to provide a pool of refurbished refrigerated rail cars to Washington food shippers.

Rail Logistics sales representative Michael Begnaud explained at the meeting's outset the company's purpose was to share information and gather feedback from the shippers and processors at the session to take back to the state in developing a pilot program designed to last 10 years.

Some of the feedback offered during the session included complaints about the reliability of present rail service, including the difficulty of even getting a rail car into the area and having perishable goods delivered to their destination on time, as well as communication breakdown, complications and delays during the shipping process.

During the meeting, Rail Logistics representatives stressed that some issues would still occur if they take on the project, but said their company would work hard to address them to the best of their ability.

"We think we know who to contact when those issues arise, and if not, we will keep finding out for you, and we will keep you informed as to what progress we're doing," Begnaud said. "Whether it's an issue of switching, the car being dirty, the diesel fuel tank being empty, we want to hear about it — it's the only way we can become a better servant to you and to this pool."

Rail Logistics CEO Mike Lerner said he received the feedback he needed at the meeting.

"Until we know this, we can't address the problems," he said.

Begnaud echoed Lerner.

"The turnout was tremendous, which is really a tribute to the shippers and the issues that they want to ship by rail and they need a solution, so that obviously was very encouraging," he said.

The comments from the Quincy meeting and meetings in Seattle and Pasco will be taken and drafted into a scope of work for the state. Begnaud said the scope must solve everyone's problem if possible.

"Hopefully, between us working with them, the state and the railroads, maybe we can solve some of these problems, especially over the next couple of years," he said. "It's going to start, and it's going to start slowly, and we're going to have some glitches, but I think the future is bright for all of us."

Begnaud said the Rail Logistics outline of the scope of work will be into the state by May 1, and the timetable for the pool program is to begin around July 15.

"If anybody wanted a car, needed a car now, we'd be happy to send it up here, load it, ship it," he said.

Port public affairs consultant Pat Boss said the turnout at the meeting was excellent, with good questions and people genuinely interested in getting more rail cars to north central Washington.

"Clearly, this is a bottom-line issue for a lot of companies, for competitive reasons, for cost issues and just mainly so they can basically ship their product from Point A to Point B, they need the rail cars, or they can't move their product," Boss said. "If they can't move their product, they can't sell it. It's a real bread and butter issue for these shippers, and even processors."

Representatives of processors, shippers, cold storage companies, frozen vegetable companies, frozen french fries, apples and potatoes were all in attendance at the meeting.

"You can clearly see from the turnout and from the questions that people really want to see this work," Boss said, adding that people also want to see the railcar pool program confined to several critical mass areas rather than spread out through the state. "A lot of people that were here today felt like Quincy should be one of the pilot sites, and given the turnout I think it should be."

In looking at rail in Grant County and central Washington, Boss stressed the need to have the ability to ship by rail efficiently in competing with states and areas closer to bigger markets.

"Quincy clearly feels, because of its proximity between the potato-growing areas and the apple-growing areas, it is a great area to consolidate a lot of freight here from both the tree fruit, the potato and the vegetable industries," Boss said.

"This project, not only for energy and all these other things, really needs to work just to get our quantities to market," said Columbia Colstor regional manager Russ Lytle, adding he thought the meeting went well.

"I felt the meeting gave us a little hope that there is resolution to the needs that we have by rail that we're losing right now," said Marvin Vietz, Jones Produce sales manager. "Burlington Northern has made it very plain that they're not refurbishing the cars anymore in the size that we need. It tells me that possibly through the allotment through Sen. Murray, the money appropriated for the fresh, that it will expand on what we can do by buying our own rail cars."

Rail talk

Rail Logistics seeks feedback for scope of work

By Matthew Weaver

Herald staff writer

QUINCY — Shippers and processors frustrated with rail line complications got a little chance to vent Thursday.

About 30 people gathered at Port of Quincy headquarters for an afternoon meeting in which Rail Logistics, LC, shared details of the state's recent letter of intent to contract with the Overland Park, Kan.-based company to provide a pool of refurbished refrigerated rail cars to Washington food shippers.

Rail Logistics sales representative Michael Begnaud explained at the meeting's outset the company's purpose was to share information and gather feedback from the shippers and processors at the session to take back to the state in developing a pilot program designed to last 10 years.

Some of the feedback offered during the session included complaints about the reliability of present rail service, including the difficulty of even getting a rail car into the area and having perishable goods delivered to their destination on time, as well as communication breakdown, complications and delays during the shipping process.

During the meeting, Rail Logistics representatives stressed that some issues would still occur if they take on the project, but said their company would work hard to address them to the best of their ability.

"We think we know who to contact when those issues arise, and if not, we will keep finding out for you, and we will keep you informed as to what progress we're doing," Begnaud said. "Whether it's an issue of switching, the car being dirty, the diesel fuel tank being empty, we want to hear about it — it's the only way we can become a better servant to you and to this pool."

Rail Logistics CEO Mike Lerner said he received the feedback he needed at the meeting.

"Until we know this, we can't address the problems," he said.

Begnaud echoed Lerner.

"The turnout was tremendous, which is really a tribute to the shippers and the issues that they want to ship by rail and they need a solution, so that obviously was very encouraging," he said.

The comments from the Quincy meeting and meetings in Seattle and Pasco will be taken and drafted into a scope of work for the state. Begnaud said the scope must solve everyone's problem if possible.

"Hopefully, between us working with them, the state and the railroads, maybe we can solve some of these problems, especially over the next couple of years," he said. "It's going to start, and it's going to start slowly, and we're going to have some glitches, but I think the future is bright for all of us."

Begnaud said the Rail Logistics outline of the scope of work will be into the state by May 1, and the timetable for the pool program is to begin around July 15.

"If anybody wanted a car, needed a car now, we'd be happy to send it up here, load it, ship it," he said.

Port public affairs consultant Pat Boss said the turnout at the meeting was excellent, with good questions and people genuinely interested in getting more rail cars to north central Washington.

"Clearly, this is a bottom-line issue for a lot of companies, for competitive reasons, for cost issues and just mainly so they can basically ship their product from Point A to Point B, they need the rail cars, or they can't move their product," Boss said. "If they can't move their product, they can't sell it. It's a real bread and butter issue for these shippers, and even processors."

Representatives of processors, shippers, cold storage companies, frozen vegetable companies, frozen french fries, apples and potatoes were all in attendance at the meeting.

"You can clearly see from the turnout and from the questions that people really want to see this work," Boss said, adding that people also want to see the railcar pool program confined to several critical mass areas rather than spread out through the state. "A lot of people that were here today felt like Quincy should be one of the pilot sites, and given the turnout I think it should be."

In looking at rail in Grant County and central Washington, Boss stressed the need to have the ability to ship by rail efficiently in competing with states and areas closer to bigger markets.

"Quincy clearly feels, because of its proximity between the potato-growing areas and the apple-growing areas, it is a great area to consolidate a lot of freight here from both the tree fruit, the potato and the vegetable industries," Boss said.

"This project, not only for energy and all these other things, really needs to work just to get our quantities to market," said Columbia Colstor regional manager Russ Lytle, adding he thought the meeting went well.

"I felt the meeting gave us a little hope that there is resolution to the needs that we have by rail that we're losing right now," said Marvin Vietz, Jones Produce sales manager. "Burlington Northern has made it very plain that they're not refurbishing the cars anymore in the size that we need. It tells me that possibly through the allotment through Sen. Murray, the money appropriated for the fresh, that it will expand on what we can do by buying our own rail cars."