Central operations centre sets TFR on predictability path

PREDICTABILITY, reliability, a service you can count on. This description will hopefully become a reality for Transnet Freight Rail following last week’s launch of its state-of-theart National Operations Centre at Johannesburg headquarters. The 24/7 facility, which will house under one roof all critical operational and maintenance and decisionmakers, will allow for proactive, real time monitoring and deviation management. Officially opened with much fanfare by Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin, the centre’s seating plan replicates the 14 business corridors with regional teams headed by their regional operating executives ready to ensure that plans are executed promptly and efficiently, said TFR CEO Siyabonga Gama. The corridor teams are responsible for service planning of the integrated train plan, monitoring and deviation management, provision of wagons and locomotives, locomotive distribution, availability of infrastructure and customer care. Customer feedback will be provided from the facility. Given the power supply challenge due to load shedding and cable theft, the electrical control centre which controls all high voltage switching on the rail network has also been integrated into the NOC. “By integrating TFR systems, supported by newly deployed tracking technology, it is now possible to have real time view of the train’s location against the plan,” said TFR spokesman Sandile Simelane.