Rail operators join forces to develop North-South corridor

Industry has welcomed the
development of a road to rail
strategy through the North-
South Corridor Investment
Project Initiative led by the
NEPAD Business Foundation.
Sponsored
by Transnet
Freight Rail
(TFR) and
Grindrod, the
project sees rail
operators from
South Africa,
Zimbabwe,
Zambia and
the Democratic
Republic of the
Congo working
together to
develop the North-South
Corridor.
With cargo now moving from
Durban to Kitwe in Zambia in
less than seven days as opposed
to 30 days – which was the
norm two years ago – revival of
rail in the region is on track.
According to Ravi Nair, acting
chief executive TFR, the project
takes into account the current
and future volumes, the funding
requirements as well as what
infrastructure is required to
allow for an
efficient rail
operation.
“The North-
South Corridor
set up a Joint
Operating
Centre in
Bulawayo
which has been
operational since
January 2014. It
houses railway
operators from
TFR, National Railways of
Zimbabwe (NRZ) and Beitbridge
Bulawayo Railways (BBR),
Zambia Railways Limited and La
Societe Nationale Des Chemins
de Fer Du Congo (SNCC)
from the DRC,” he said. “The
operators focus on integrating
the planning and execution of
cargo train operations between
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia
and DRC. Through this centre
we are developing an integrated
operational philosophy, one
corridor investment plan, and
a co-ordinated and agreed
maintenance and safety
standard. Skills development
across the corridor is equally in
focus.”
He said the outcome of this
would ultimately allow for the
standardisation of operating
procedures, maintenance and
safety standards for
the railways between
the four countries.
“We have already
seen significant
efficiency gains, the
transit time for the
train from South
Africa to Zambia
being one of them.”
INSERT & CAPTION
Cargo is now moving
from Durban to Kitwe in
Zambia in less than seven
days as opposed to 30
days.
– Ravi Nair