Celtic takes bold steps to move containers off road

It’s full steam ahead for the
return of rail for the transport
of goods in and out of Zambia,
according to Aileen Ryan,
commercial manager of the Celtic
Freight Group.
The company is at present one
of the largest movers of containers
by road between South Africa and
Zambia, and has its own container
terminal in Lusaka, as well as
warehouses in Durban and Gauteng.
“Celtic
recognises that
rail will one day
return to play
a huge part in
Zambia’s import
and export
potential.
“The future of
bulk transport in
Africa logically
should be rail.
“We have
banked on that
becoming a reality, and invested
a huge amount of effort and some
capital into paving the way for what
in some ways is our competition,” she
says.
Celtic’s investment in creating a
20 000-sqm paved area at its new
rail siding, which is equipped with
a reach stacker for full containers
and stackers to handle empties, “will
pay dividends in the medium to long
term.
“In our experience
logistics companies
are able to book and
fill a block train to
and from Lusaka.
The problem comes
in with the efficient
offloading, storage
and distribution
or packing of the
containers,” she says.
The rail siding is
being managed through the same
systems developed by Celtic for its
road haulage operations.
“Zambia Railways has been slated
in the press. Yet, our experience is
that they in fact are interested in
solving problems, and are keen to
work with the private sector.
Officials from Zambian Railways
have inspected Celtic’s facility, “like
the set up, and are looking forward
to the big international shipping lines
and forwarding operations moving
containers off the road and onto
rail,” she says.
Until recently there were
only two other private rail
and container terminals, in
Kitwe and Kapiri Mposhi.
“Having an
independent modern
facility in the heart of
Lusaka’s industrial
area creates
opportunities
for the cement,
agricultural and
steel sectors in
particular to
reduce logistics costs.
“We are currently in negotiation
with a cement company to service
their needs in central Lusaka,” she
says.
Celtic also sees an opportunity for
more containerised freight to move
to rail.
Ryan points out that
the world’s three largest
shipping companies provide
a through bill of lading
service to Zambia, and also
use the Celtic terminal for
their empty and full
container handling.
Among the first
orders for the Celtic
siding have been the
loading of empty
containers from its
stack onto rail for
use elsewhere in the
country and region.
INSERT & CAPTION
Celtic has invested in
creating a 20 000-sqm
paved area at its new rail
siding.
– Aileen Ryan