Cape calls for collaboration to effect modal shift

Cape Town’s transport and public works department has called for a collaborative approach from the private and public sector and provincial authorities to reduce the overreliance of road freight and increase utilisation of other modes. It’s part of the Western Cape’s recently launched Road Freight Strategy, and the department’s Corinne Gallant believes it’s crucial if the province is to address some of the challenges faced in the freight transport sector. “Our province requires a balance in the system where freight is moved on the appropriate mode. Road freight will always play an integral part in our freight system, but we cannot be this reliant on road.” She said 93% of freight in the Western Cape was moved on road and only 7% on rail. “Demand is expected to increase by over 50% over the next 15 years. This will just continue to put pressure on our freight system. Some parts of the province are already struggling with crumbling infrastructure and this is going to get worse.” She said there were simply more trucks on the road than was necessary and creating a more efficient system of freight movement was critical for provincial economic growth. “It is, of course, not a simple exercise. We realise that the rail sector has its fair share of challenges including lack of infrastructure and unreliability of service.”