New RamExpress tanks ready to fuel

by Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The new Ramstein Express gas station located along Lincoln Boulevard, south of Lincoln Circle, quietly started operations Tuesday on Ramstein.

Service members are able to use each of the 28 gas pumps from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until the grand opening in August when the RamExpress store officially opens and operates 24/7.

After Aug. 31, all other gas stations will no longer be open and the main 24-hour shoppette/Class 6 will close.

“The sheer volume of the Ramstein community is so large that we needed to find a better, faster way to provide gas and service to everyone,” said Jermaine Wilson,
Class 6 shoppette store manager and future manager of the RamExpress. “We
wanted to make an overall better shopping atmosphere for the best customers in the world.”

Combined, the older gas stations together on Ramstein only house about 16 gas pumps and carry approximately 150,000 liters of gas. The new RamExpress station holds about 450,000 liters of gas making it the largest Army and Air Force Exchange Service-run gas station in the world.

“Each new pumping station will have diesel fuel available,” Wilson said. “Ramstein has never carried diesel fuel before, so this is going to be a great convenience for all of our diesel consumers.”

With the additional pumps, Wilson said the transition and buying experience should be seamless and speedy, almost completely removing the wait time for gas, except in extreme peak periods of the day.

“We’re still going to have some lines during the highest traffic times of the day, but it will definitely speed up service,” he said.

The new RamExpress store is scheduled to open Aug. 31 with a grand opening featuring multiple vendors, sales and giveaways.

“I want to let everyone know that we are truly excited about this project and we truly appreciate the support service members and their families give the Exchange worldwide,” Wilson said.