‘Rail stymies port fluidity’ – Corbin

As Transnet National Ports Authority heavyweights outlined their impressive infrastructure plans and proposed tariffs at a business breakfast in Johannesburg recently, the importance of rail as a crucial element of a fluid logistics chain was brought into strong focus. “As the private sector what we are seeing is that there is no conductor managing the sea side the land side and the roads,” said JCCI’s Pat Corbin. “We have sympathy with the terminal because we wouldn’t have the problems and congestion if Transnet Freight Rail was able to offer an adequate, predictable and reliable service,” he said. “The international advice to shippers is ‘do not manifest through to City Deep because you will lose your container in the system for a couple of weeks’. “This is of great concern to us because it impacts on the unnecessary movements in and out of the Port of Durban,” he said. “There’s no point TNPA talking about what they’re doing in the port. What we’re interested in is the total costs – if we can get the costs down and not be forced to use road transport because rail is available at a lower cost, that mitigates against some of the tariff increases in the port.” Corbin believes, however, that there has been an acknowledgement from TFR of the need for equalised rail rates from Port Elizabeth to Gauteng, bearing in mind the future congestion that will be experienced in Durban. “If we could have more emphasis on the rail link working you’d clear out the port and have free movement – it’s all about integrating the rail system into the entire process.”