Trucks, trucks and more trucks. That is the outlook for Gauteng unless rail manages to make a significant comeback and draws volumes off road. “Volume projections for the Port of Durban are concerning if one looks at transport capacity,” says Mike Walwyn of the South African Freight Forwarders Association (Saaff). “It is estimated that if the projections are correct then around 15 000 trucks will be needed per day within the next six years to handle the container volumes at the port. The amount of cargo currently moving to Gauteng is already significant. We are going to have to focus more on rail if the country wants to handle a new freight railway line.” It is a message that is heard across the industry. “We cannot be focusing on a high-speed passenger line between Durban and Gauteng,” said another industry commentator. “What we need is seamless freight movement that has been significantly increased. A reliable and dependable service.” Transnet Freight Rail is adamant this is being achieved slowly, but surely, and that they are clawing back market share. The industry is less sure, but it seems that all are in agreement – unless rail makes a significant comeback, Gauteng’s inland depots and the province’s roads will be just as incapable of supporting the number of trucks needed to handle the increased volumes. It is estimated that containers moving to Gauteng will increase significantly in the years to come with talk of 10 million containers or more. “The entire system is under pressure already,” explains Walwyn. “Handling these kinds of increases with the current system will not be possible.”
