Durban stands to lose auto industry

Spoornet considers improving Gauteng - EL railway line Leonard Neill SPOORNET HAS undertaken a survey to determine the feasibility of upgrading the Gauteng-East London railway line to handle all motor vehicle imports and exports to and from the country's main manufacturing zone in order to ease the congestion at Durban harbour. Full details of the survey are expected to be revealed to stakeholders in the project at a meeting in Johannesburg next week. The rail authority has involved automobile manufacturers, the East London port authority, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Council and the East London Industrial Development Zone officials in a series of project meetings. Details of the survey are not available for general consumption at this stage but some serious concerns are being investigated. These include the state of the rail link between the centres, which has been considered inadequate in some stages to carry constant heavy traffic, and the availability of rolling stock to meet the demands of the motor industry. Serious concern has been expressed from industry in general in this regard with Spoornet itself having accepted the fact in recent times that one of the obstacles in the way of an efficient rail system has been the lack of sufficient trucks for freight purposes. Refurbishing the present stock and adding to it is one of the prime targets in its present budget. At the same time a final decision on the establishment of a new container terminal at East London harbour's West Bank is expected from Portnet headquarters before the end of this month. This, in turn, will call for a revived rail service from the harbour to inland areas with the motor industry once again in the forefront of demands. Growing trade through the port, encouraged by the congestion in larger harbours, has further increased pressure on the existing rail service. Motor manufacturers based in Gauteng who currently use the facilities in Durban harbour have declined to comment on the possibility of shifting their activities to East London, but all Gauteng-based motor manufacturers have been involved in official meetings with both Spoornet and the port authority in recent months, dealing with the project. A spokesman for the Industrial Development Zone said this week: ÒAn IDZ demands a viable rail line. East London is the ideal harbour right now to handle all the country's automotive requirements and it is to be hoped that a satisfactory arrangement is reached between Spoornet and the manufacturers for the good of the economy. Next week will tell."