The group is the operator for the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal, which Victoria's Deputy Premier Peter Ryan officially opened on August 8.

The $17.5-million project will provide a central location for grain handling and export processes and will improve access to grain ports.

The capacity of the freight hub will be close to double that of the Horsham terminal.

Wimmera Container Line general manager Doug Golden said it was an exciting time for the company.

"We are moving volumes before the weekend but we won't be operating until next week," he said. "We normally operate on Saturdays and Mondays.

"The first and most important thing is to get the handling equipment out there.

"We need to dismantle large forklifts and they are more than 100 tonnes each.We need to get the weight down and take the counter-weights off so we get them down to about 40 tonnes each.

"They will be escorted out to Dooen by VicRoads today.

"We will reassemble them between today and Monday. That is the core issue."

Mr Golden said a number of containers some empty and some full would also need to be moved by road to the new base.

He said the company operated 13,500 containers with five train services a week last year.

"We anticipate that by the end of this year and over the next season we will run up to nine services a week and move in excess of 20,000 containers," he said.

Mr Golden said everyone was feeling 'fantastic' about the move.

"This has been in planning and development for 10 years," he said.

"To be able to move to brand new rail infrastructure, new offices and a fantastic handling facility is going to be a delight.

"I think one of the things the workers are looking forward to the most is no dust."

For more on the move, see page 23 and coming editions of the Mail-Times.