Joint initiative helps streamline rail traffic from Port of Maputo

A joint initiative by the Port of Maputo, CFM, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Swazi Rail is ramping up rail efficiency on three corridors. “Whereas ports in South Africa and other countries only have to worry about their own rail corridor, Maputo Port has to account for the efficiency of different rail corridors,” says Soraia Abdula, communications officer for the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC). “With this in mind, at the beginning of 2012 MPDC performed a port and rail alignment with CFM. This resulted in a study with the profiles of each of the three corridors and the port as well as the presentation of proposals to be implemented as a way to ensure efficiency and rail cargo growth in the Port of Maputo,” she told FTW. Following this study, the Port of Maputo, CFM, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Swazi Rail signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2012 to regulate, promote and facilitate the rail traffic amongst all parties. Committees have been established through this process to focus on specific aspects. They include operational, investment, rail network, human development and safety. A JOC (Joint Operational Centre) was one of the initiatives proposed by the study, and started operating in the last quarter of 2012. It is already showing positive results in terms of improving rail efficiency, according to Abdula. “In a very short time, we will begin to see the results of all these initiatives in terms of efficiency. The better management and the establishment of an integrated operating corridor means that now things like safety and efficiency processes and procedures are standardised across the three corridors (Transnet, Swazi Rail and CFM),” she says. CAPTION Maputo Port ... partnering with CFM, Transnet Freight Rail and Swazi Rail.