The first train laden with milk powder which is expected to leave North Taieri this morning also carries a huge significance.
The seven- or eight-carriage train will carry the first milk powder taken by rail for export from Fonterra's new $69 million storage and transit facility.
It will take about 224 tonnes of milk powder from the former Fisher and Paykel plant site to Port Chalmers in containers, which will be stacked on a ship to be sent overseas.
Confirming the details yesterday, warehouse manager Tim Eketone said the "movement" was a significant milestone for the farmer-owned dairy co-operative.
Storing, and moving by rail, milk products from the North Taieri site would save money, boost local employment and save wear and tear on local roads.
The 120 daily truck movements through Mosgiel would be cut by about 80% when train movements peaked at about four trains a day, Mr Eketone said.
There were 26 operations staff, mostly forklift drivers, at the site, and another five already working for Fonterra in Dunedin would join the coolstore, Mr Eketone said.
The first train also heralds the completion of the coolstore and railway sidings in Fonterra's staged redevelopment of the old Fisher and Paykel plant on Stedman Rd.
The warehouse, for product from Fonterra's Edendale and Stirling factories, can store 17,000 tonnes of cool storage.
Its dry product capacity was unavailable yesterday.
Plans to extend the coolstore were still being discussed, Mr Eketone said.
The co-operative in February floated the idea of turning the hub into an inland port for importers and exporters, to make use of improved rail lines and significant regional storage.
It would mean containers full of imported products would be emptied on the site so the containers could be refilled with dairy products for export.
