Daily express service shaves throughput time

Transnet Freight
Rail’s express service
is up and running
on the Natcor line –
with one frequency per day
and capacity to increase to
three slots.
This after
a pilot run
– which got
the industry
thumbs-up –
towards the
end of last
year.
“It’s been a
great success,”
said sales
executive
Maria
Mzimela.
“We have come from a
throughput time of 96
hours down to an average of
55 hours barring external
disruptions. Throughput
time is calculated from
the time the container is
discharged from the vessel
until the time it is available
for collection at City Deep
Terminal.
“Direct loading from
vessel to
rail wagons,
security
and priority
in the
yards and
mainline,
are the main
focus areas
for this
specialised
service,” she
said, adding
that several
interventions had been
put in place to embed and
sustain improvements in
operational efficiencies for
all TFR trains.
“We have deployed our
online track and trace service
via the Navis system, and
using feedback received from
our customers are continuing
to improve other online track
and trace technologies.
“We will continue rolling
out the Navis system at the
remaining inland terminals,
namely Kascon and Pretcon,
in 2016,” she said.
“In addition, working
jointly with our labour
unions, we have
introduced self-managed
efficiency teams which
are localised across our
various operational areas.
These teams are driving
operational excellence
aimed at improving on-time
departures, on-time
arrivals, elimination of train
cancellations and train delays
to name a few.”
INSERT & CAPTION
We have come from
a throughput time of
96 hours down to an
average of 55 hours.
– Maria Mzimela