Logistics parks must focus on intermodalism

BY THE year 2050 Spoornet expects to see 150 trains a day departing to Durban, the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and cross-border, GM Ravi Nair told delegates at last week’s Intermodal Africa 2007. “We’re seeing investment in road and rail, but not in intermodal facilities – and that’s where the focus needs to fall,” he said. Coal and containers generate the highest revenue for Spoornet and container business is a prime target market over the next 5, 10 and 15 years, he said. “Our rail container market share at the moment on the Natal corridor constitutes 20%, on the Port Elizabeth-Eastern Cape corridor around 0% and in other domestic areas less than 20%. Our aim is to double our volumes over the next 3-5 years,” he said. This will be achieved through efficiencies and investment. The majority of Spoornet's R34.5bn capital investment will focus on rolling stock, he said. “We have already signed a number of contracts with companies in the Far East to provide us with locomotives for the coal and ore line, and in the next couple of months further contracts will be signed.” But the strategy going forward clearly demands intermodal focus. “We are looking at setting up logistics parks around the country and working with road hauliers and others in the supply chain to achieve our collective objective of creating a more efficient transport system.”