PA GE Train and Ferry Whistles Blow for the Last Time - TOLL Group

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NEW ZEALAND
Overlander Truly Back on Track
NEW ZEALANDERS WHO SAID THEY
WOULD SUPPORT THE OVERLANDER
RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN AUCKLAND
AND WELLINGTON IF IT CONTINUED
HAVE STAYED TRUE TO THEIR WORD.
Between July 2007 and January 2008,
over 26,000 passengers travelled on the
scenic train journey, and in the 2007 year
alone each service carried an increase
of 20 percent over the previous year.
Toll NZ Corporate Affairs Group General
Manager Sue Foley says TranzScenic
staff have played a key role in rebuilding
the service, right down to improving and
achieving a 'true Kiwi focus' through the
onboard menu.
"With the assistance from well-known
Wellington restaurateurs Logan and
Brown, we have now got some great New
Zealand based suppliers onboard such as
Wishbone, Eve’s Pantry for the great
railway pie and Kapiti for the hokey pokey ice creams," says Sue.
"It is not just the cities that have backed the Overlander – Toll would
also like to say a big thank you to the regions that have got behind the
service as well.
"There has been particularly good patronage from provincial stop
points including Hamilton, Palmerston North, Taumaranui and, of
Overlander Stops for Important Guest
On board the Overlander is our VIP Tom Thomson and Rail Passenger Group
Customer Service Manager, Natalie Thompson.
A SPECIAL STOP AT TAIHAPE WAS MADE BY THE OVERLANDER
ON WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL FOR THE LAST-SURVIVING MEMBER
OF FLYING OFFICER JOHN POHE’S AIRCREW, TOM THOMSON.
THE OVERLANDER DOES NOT NORMALLY STOP AT THE TINY
LOWER NORTH ISLAND TOWN. HOWEVER, ON THIS OCCASION,
THE COMPANY WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THE
WORLD WAR II VETERAN.
course, National Park."
The service reverts to its three-days-aweek
winter timetable on May 4.
"There will be repeats of the hugelysuccessful
‘Steam Saturday’ this winter
with the Overlander being pulled by a
steam locomotive between Feilding and
Taihape. Taihape’s new turntable has
now made this possible.
"The gumboot capital
has got right behind
this and already
Taihape has
entertainment in place
for the steam trippers
who take the journey.
"Competition from cheap airfares has
been intense in the first three months of this year, but the Overlander
has reacted with the recent ‘cheap seats’ campaign which has
offered NZ$49 seats to go anywhere between Wellington and
Auckland."
Rather than travelling by plane and only getting to see white cloud,
Sue says Overlander passengers genuinely get to experience the
'Land of the Long White Cloud'.
John Pohe became the first Maori pilot of the NZRAF and a leader
of aircrews in the skies over Europe in World War II. Today, he is
considered one of this country’s greatest war heroes. On 22 September
1943, John Pohe landed his severely damaged aircraft in pitch dark in
the English Channel – a feat British historians’ claim was exceptional
to achieve. It led to his German capture and contribution to one of the
most famous events of the Second World War, The Great Escape.
On 31 March 1944, John Pohe’s extraordinary life came to a tragic end.
He was placed in front of a German firing squad. Pohe removed his
blindfold and faced his executioners in the eye.
The story of John Pohe was made into a documentary that premiered
recently in his hometown, Taihape.
Now well into his 80s, Tom flew out with his wife from Canada
specifically to attend the premier and Toll NZ was only more than
happy to grant a ‘request to host him on the Overlander down
to Taihape’. He and his wife were overwhelmed by the hospitality
shown to him by the Tranz Scenic staff with a highlight being the
chance to travel in the cab of the train for a short distance.
Excellence Award
ACHIEVING 100 PERCENT STOCK ACCURACY HAS SEEN THE
TOLL LOGISTICS TEAM RECEIVE KELLOGG AUSTRALIA’S
EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE SECOND TIME.
The award was recently presented to HJ Road Site Supervisor Bill
Toll Rail Wins Export Lime Contract
A PREVIOUSLY LONG ESTABLISHED TRUCKING CONTRACT TO
MOVE PAPUA NEW GUINEA-BOUND MCDONALD’S LIME
EXPORTS FROM OTOROHANGA TO MOUNT MAUNGANUI HAS
RECENTLY BEEN AWARDED TO TOLL RAIL.
About 10 containers of the export lime will now be handled by the
division each working day, complementing the existing movement of
domestic lime to the Glenbrook Steel Mill, says Toll Rail Regional
Sales Executive Kevin Harrison.
"McDonald’s Lime wanted the certainty of moving the cargo daily,
Monday to Friday, ensuring it arrived on time at Mount Maunganui,
and of course there had to be cost competitiveness," he says.
"Toll Rail had to deploy heavy-rated flat-deck wagons capable
of carrying the very weighty containers full of lime, and also
guarantee the movements direct from the plant to the wharves."
Kevin says Toll Rail had to tackle how to load the containers in
the tight space available at McDonald’s Lime sidings and also
needed to reach arrangement with the stevedoring company at
Mount Maunganui to expedite the ‘turn’ on the fixed daily pool of
wagons.
Well-Attended Golf Day
OVER 100 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE
SUCCESSFUL RECENT TOLL NZ
CORPORATE GOLF DAY FOR KEY CUSTOMERS
AND CLIENTS AT THE GRANGE IN AUCKLAND.
Our company would like to pay special thanks
to Toll Tranzlink Business Development
Manager Wilson Pollock for organising the
tournament, Toll NZ Executive Assistant Carol
Hunter for ensuring the day ran smoothly and
Toll Tranzlink Executive Assistant Cindy Cator
for also providing assistance.
Special thanks is also offered to key
supporters – Toll Rail Group, Gen-I, Gough
Forklifts, Shell, Trio, Konica Minolta, Qantas,
Vodafone and the Chris Cairns Foundation.
Chris Cairns himself participated in the day
and his foundation’s hole proved a key
entertainment point, with attendees ranging
from The Rock FM to the Red Bull Girls on
site, and Toll Tranzlink Training Manager
Stephen Thomas breaking into an impromptu
haka.
NEW ZEALAND
Anderson and HJ Road Inventory Controller Don Lamport by
Toll Logistics General Manager Warren Boyes, on behalf of Kellogg
Australia Logistics and Operations Manager Scott Giffin and Kellogg
Australia / New Zealand Inventory Manager Mike Claffey.
The award winning Toll Logistics
team: Jeff Barr, Peter De Valk,
Kasi Leka, Ian Holt,
Denise Payne, Kahu Mahui,
Kate Soper, Mike Beaudion,
Rebekah Watts, Paul Langley,
Jesse Murry, Liz Hiddleston,
Reese Moreton, Carmel McKay,
Jed Knight, Don Lamport,
Steve Trumper, Bill Anderson
and Warren Boyes.
McDonald’s Lime Commercial Manager Andy Campbell says his
company has been 'pleasantly surprised' at how quickly the contract
came together.
"We’ve found the entire team at Toll Rail to be very attuned to our
needs and responsive to meeting our requirements," he says.
Toll Rail Commercial General Manager Aaron Temperton adds the
deal is positive in view of the Government’s policy to shift longdistance
freight from road to rail.
"At the end of the day, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty will benefit from
taking thousands of truck moves off the road each year," he says.
"However, we have to show that rail can provide the logistics
expertise and give the supply surety that is required to support an
exporter, or any other existing or potential customer for that matter.
"In that regard, it was good to see that the first movements of full
containers have gone well and that McDonald’s Lime are delighted
with how the arrangements are proceeding, so much so that we are
now exploring further avenues in which we can add value to each
other’s respective businesses."
Aaron Temperton from Toll Rail giving it his
best shot.
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TOLL TODAY JUNE – AUGUST 2008