JOCs facilitate cross-border rail

Transnet Freight Rail
(TFR) has seen a
significant rise in
cross-border volumes,
according to acting chief
executive, Ravi Nair.
“There’s been an increase of
49% in traffic moving across
our borders over the past five
years – from 5.3mt in 2010/11
to 7.9mt in 2014/15.”
He said
the focus
on regional
integration
was a top
priority and
efforts were
concentrated
on three
corridors.
“ We are
focusing on
the North-
South; East West; and the
Maputo Corridor,” said
Nair. “The strategy aims to
promote aligned planning
and investment in the
revitalisation of SARA railways
infrastructure in support of
growth and development of
these corridors
across the
region.
Transnet
is a key role-player in
many such revitalisation
programmes.”
He said from an operational
point of view, the establishment
of Joint Operations
Committees (JOCs) was a
strong focus.
The North-South Corridor
JOC is situated in Bulawayo for
example.
“These structures are set up
with all players in the supply
chain – such
as the various
national rail
operators,
terminal
operators,
ports and the
like – ensuring
co-operation and
coordination on
the corridors.”
He said the
success of
this approach had been most
evident on the Maputo corridor
where lessons learnt were being
applied to other corridors.
Through a coordinated
process, said Nair, cargo was
being moved far more efficiently
across borders via rail than had
been the case for many
years in southern
Africa.
INSERT
Through a coordinated
process cargo is being
moved far more
efficiently across borders.
–Ravi Nair