European intermodal solution a blueprint for southern Africa

With Africa having been identified as a key investment continent, investment in the constant expansion of its Africa transport system has been identified as a top priority for Kuehne + Nagel South Africa, says overland director Riaz Rasheed. “Road and rail are a crucial link in the first and last mile of the transport chain,” he said. “Access to rail sidings in the current environment limits access to customers’ premises and road freight services are needed to complete the chain. “We offer our customers the option of road or rail transport, but this is dependent on a number of criteria which are assessed when providing a solution. The main focus usually is on the lead times which have been allowed to move cargo from port to the various inland destinations and vice versa,” said Rasheed. “Road clearly offers greater flexibility in transit times, departures and direct to site delivery, as opposed to a rail service which is restricted to the rail networks and a central area of arrival, with further on-carriage thereafter, which again is supported by a road network for final delivery.” It is when these two modes operate hand in hand that transport is operating at its optimum level. “Our Europe overland network consists of both road and rail transport, and we have developed advanced intermodal solutions that transfer cargo from other modes to rail and inland waterways, relieving the burden on roads and sea ports throughout Europe,” said Rasheed. Finding these solutions for southern Africa would go a long way to addressing the challenges faced when one is dependent on only one mode of transport.