Integration on track as TFR pushes intermodalism

Intermodal is the new buzzword in the container industry and Transnet Freight Rail is taking notes. Plans to implement an intermodal system for the movement of containers in the country are on track and can be expected to be operational in 2011. Long gone are the days when one needed a rail siding at the factory or mine to be able to move by rail, says Bheka Xaba, executive manager for TFR. “The biggest growing industry in the world is intermodalism and it is a system we will definitely be implementing.” In the process of establishing road alliances, the TFR strategy for 2011 is to be able to offer its customers a door-to-door service. “We will bring road hauliers on board to move the containers in the areas where there is no rail. This is the future.” And the parastatal is not planning on staying on home ground. “We are engaged in talks with railways in our neighbouring countries as cross-border is also a part of our aggressive marketing strategy. We plan to move containers cross border by rail and further.”