Leonard Neill takes a look at how manufacturers, depots and transporters are adapting to new customer needs ...
'Rail must change its
image to regain market share'
RAIL NEEDS to regain its share of container movements, especially on the major volume route between Durban and Johannesburg where at present it is transporting only about 30% of containers moved, says Lawrie Bateman, managing director MSC Logistics.
In order to increase traffic, he says, rail needs to move away from its present image of an inefficient costly rail service prone to theft where administrative management dictates and not market requirements.
"Certain moves have been made in this direction starting in July 1999, where the principle of arrival time management or predictable service was introduced to improve reliability and transit time, but this faded away for reasons unknown.
"Currently Spoornet is embarking on another project, this time welcoming the intermodal industry's involvement, along the lines of changing its operating principles to more of a customised service. This is aimed at improving the port/rail operations, fixed train services, supply of wagons, supply chain integration and investment in terminal equipment and management.
"We, as a major logistical company, look forward to improvements, but Spoornet must first get its basic operations right, which it can do by starting at ground level and working up."
