Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget : The new freight terminal gives Rundvik's sawmill new opportunities

Early in the morning of 23 June, the first freight train arrived to the new freight terminal in Rundvik, Sweden. The first train contained nine train carriages fully loaded with logs for SCA's sawmill in Rundvik.

​When the Bothnia Line was built, it was prepared for a freight terminal in Rundvik and since 2009, parts of the track have been completed. On Wednesday, June 23, the first train arrived. The freight terminal, which cost SEK 57 million to build, has been financed by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Västerbotten Region and Nordmaling Municipality, which account for 18 of the 57 million.

Opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by ​600 tonnes per year​

'SCA Forest has a modern train system for transporting logs and every year we transport approximately 3 million m3 to various industries, both SCA's own industries and external ones. The new terminal in Rundvik creates opportunities to transport more timber by train instead of by truck. Initially, the transports depart from Hoting and Storuman. Later, other transport routes will also be relevant', says Martin Sundberg, Head of logistics, SCA Forest.

The first train was 300 meters long and contained 1,100 m3 of spruce logs, which corresponds to about 22 trucks. By transporting the timber by train instead of by truck, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by as much as 5,600 kilos. Later on, when full-size freight trains operate the route, the load can be up to 2,400 m3 of logs and the savings in carbon dioxide will then be even higher. By transporting timber by train instead of by truck, it is possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 600 tonnes each year.

'During the summer, we will run six trains and together we will continue to work within SCA Forest, Rundvik's sawmill and the freight terminal to find the most efficient way of working. Train transport is cost-effective but is hampered by the need to reload on trucks. By finding a good solution for intermediate transport, the volume will be able to increase in the future', says Martin Sundberg.

Freight terminal that offers great opportunities

All types of goods will be handled at the new freight terminal. The emphasis will mainly be on the wood and forest industry. The first customer to test the new logistics solution was Rundvik sawmill. Deliveries to the sawmill will mainly consist of spruce logs.​

'We transport our raw materials and products by boat and truck today and we are curiously looking forward to having a third alternative to consider. For long transport distances, the train is a good alternative. The main opportunities I see are that we can secure our raw material supply and that we can compete in a cost-effective and sustainable way for raw materials that are at a longer distance awat from the sawmill. This means that we become more compedetive in a larger geographical area and this in turn gives us opportunities to expand our sawmill production', says Johan Tännfäldt, Sawmill Manager at Rundvik's sawmill.

​Facts about the freight te​​rminal in Rundvik

• ​The freight terminal has two industrial tracks and is strategically located between Umeå and Örnsköldsvik. The proximity to the E4 and the port of Rundvik and the connection to the Bothnia Line means that the freight terminal is located in the middle of northern Europe's transport hub when it comes to transport, mainly in the forest and wood products industry.
• The terminal area is approximately six hectares in size and can be expanded by another four to five hectares in the future.
• At the freight terminal, it is possible to make timber measurements and initially the sawmill in Rundvik will be one of the companies that use the terminal the most.
• The track length is one kilometer and the effective loading distance is 880 meters.
• The freight terminal, which cost SEK 57 million to build, is financed by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Västerbotten Region and Nordmaling Municipality, which account for 18 of the 57 million.
• Nordmaling municipality expects to be able to reach a production of approximately 350,000 tonnes per year that passes the terminal.
• The capacity at the Rundvik terminal is 20-28 trains per week.
• Around 800 people live in Rundvik (according to Statistics Sweden's statistics 2020-12-31) and in the area there are large industrial companies such as SCA and Masonite Beams as well as a newly established transhipment center.

Published 7/2/2021

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