Bidfreight signs up rail contract

BIDFREIGHT INTERMODAL has just signed up a commercial arrangement with Spoornet. In this they have established a common-user rail contract service and an option for shipping lines without their own contracts. According to Bidfreight executive director, Piet Steyn, the idea was bred when Rennies was acquired from Safren by Bidvest and needed to establish its own contract for its customers. "We therefore decided nine months ago to organise our own rail contract, he said, "bringing the group's volumes, together with those of its customers in the ship's agency division, into leverage with Spoornet." Bidfreight is currently running workshops with Spoornet, "making sure we don't stand on each other's toes," said Steyn. The group is also currently looking at bulk traffic, he added, and incorporating its cross border traffic as well. Steyn also feels that rail transport is a cost- efficient way to go. "We believe rail is a good method of transportation point-to-point," he said. "And that's the international trend - terminal to terminal traffic, and distribution from there, a latter function in which Bidfreight will be supporting Spoornet Cartage," Steyn added. The company also has no vehicle assets. "We don't have wheels but we do have volumes and terminals," said Steyn, "so we'll bring more traffic to rail."