Port and Spoornet make progress towards improved rail service

Twice-a-week Gauteng service on track LEONARD NEILL WHEN TOP-ranking Spoornet officials sit down at the negotiating table with representatives of the National Ports Authority (NPA), SA Port Operations and local stakeholders in East London, it is in the best interests of the region, says Terry Taylor, NPA’s communications chief in the port. “It’s something that has never happened before,” he says. “We could never reach the top brass in Spoornet to discuss our rail problems. Now it is different, and we are experiencing positive results.” Plans are on track for the introduction of the twice-a-week container service from Gauteng to East London. Spoornet is prepared to launch the service, but needed commitment from shippers and shipping lines that the goods would be there to make it feasible. This they now have. Taylor believes it could be the result of intervention by cabinet ministers like Transport’s Jeff Radebe and Public Enterprises’ Alec Erwin – both known to be eager to see service improvements – which has promoted the port’s plea to be elevated to hierarchy levels at the rail provider’s headquarters. “We took the role at NPA to lead the way for a complete stakeholder thrust in getting the rail service upgraded and improved,” says Taylor. “Now we are seeing things coming together. We have had positive commitments from large-scale Gauteng manu­facturers that their support will be forth–coming when the trains and the trucks can run to a guaranteed schedule. It’s all about the service they want, and we are on the brink of making it available to them.” Scenario planning prepares for increased volumes