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.
