Full steam ahead for TFR express project

Positive industry uptake has
greeted the recent pilot rollout
by Transnet Freight Rail
of its express service on the
Cape Corridor.
The express train concept
was introduced on the Natal
Corridor (Natcor) just over
a year ago, and has now
been successfully tested
out, according to Mike
Asefovitz, senior manager
of external communications
and corporate affairs at
TFR.
It has been dubbed
“Utalagu” (something
untouchable like a mirage)
– ref lecting, he told FTW,
that it offered a service “that
our competitors will not
match”.
“One of our objectives
was to run the train within
57 hours between Durban
and Johannesburg,”
Asefovitz added. “We are
pleased to report that the
service has stabilised within
that target timing.”
Among the support
initiatives was the
introduction of the
Transnet Operation Centre
(TOC), a joint operation
of the Transnet operating
divisions (ODs) TFR,
Transnet National Ports
Authority (TNPA) and
Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT).
Asefovitz noted that the
introduction of the TOC
meant that planning
for the handling of
cargo started while
it was still on the
vessel, through
off loading from
vessel onto train and
up to the destination.
“This,” he said,
“allowed the planning
between the divisions to
be conducted under one
roof, with the TOC playing
a critical role in improving
Transnet value-chain supply
across ODs.”
On average, TFR runs
two express trains per week.
“However,” Asefovitz said,
“it needs to be mentioned
that the frequency is
determined by whether the
customer has sufficient
cargo to make up a full
train.”