A collaborative approach with stakeholders both in the private and public sector has been identified as a key element of the Western Cape’s ambition to move freight from road to rail.
It’s part of its newly launched Road Freight Strategy, according to Corinne Gallant, deputy director of freight in the provincial department of transport and public works.
“The intent is to achieve a modal shift from road to other modes of transport including rail,” she said. “Our province requires a balance in the system where appropriate 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 a total of 93% of freight in the Western Cape was moved on road and only 7% on rail. “It is not a matter of replacing road or phasing it out; we understand the crucial role road plays in our province, but we have to make sure that freight is moved safely and efficiently.
“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.
