Bulk shift for TFR frees up highway

The shift from road to rail is
on the increase, according to
Mike Asefovitz, spokesman
for Transnet Freight Rail
(TFR).
Its road-to-rail strategy
recently received an added
boost when Phalaborwa
Copper (PC) moved all its
freight to rail, he told FTW.
“And this, he said, “allows
the R40 highway from
Phalaborwa to Komatipoort
to ‘breathe’ once again after
the trucks transporting
magnetite – which had
traversed that road on a daily
basis – were terminated due
to this market force.
“The 700 long-haul trucks
per day by PC have been
replaced by an extra two
trains of magnetite per day.”
TFR’s magnetite budget
for the 2015/16 financial
year is 11.4 million tonnes,
of which 8.5m are from PC.
This translates to an extra
60 000t per month on rail.
In September, TFR is
introducing 150-wagon
trains from Phalaborwa to
Richards Bay – where the
longest trains currently on
this corridor are only 75
wagons long.
“This,” Asefovitz said,
“is to ensure that customer
needs are met at all times,
leaving no room for railfriendly
cargo to be on road.”
It also qualifies the
Phalaborwa to Richards
Bay line as a mini heavyhaul
line, which has the
capacity to move more
volumes at a time, as well as
accommodate rail-friendly
cargo that is currently on
road.”
Also in September,
Steelpoort trains carrying
chrome will be increased
from 60 to 75 wagon trains,
creating capacity and
utilising resources optimally
on that line.
“Driving between
Phalaborwa and Maputo
on the R40 has suddenly
become a breeze,” said
Asefovitz. “Congestion
and carbon emissions are
reduced, because a lowcarbon,
energy-efficient
freight system is now in
place.”