Record road freight volumes motivate rail incentive talks

Staggering development in infrastructure programmes Les Holbrook … finality needed regarding N2 toll road. KEVIN MAYHEW DEVELOPMENT IN the Border-Kei Region is demanding such staggering volumes of cement that sales are the highest in the country at present. Executive director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business, Les Holbrook, says that cement manufacturer Holcim’s figures reflect that demand has outstripped the rest of the country with large volumes going into Government capital and infrastructure programmes. “Along with this we have had record volumes of road freight in the region based on year-on-year figures supplied by our members. This is to service this development and the increasing volumes of manufactured products that are being moved on our road network,” he explained. The increase in road volumes has prompted his organisation’s participation in the Eastern Cape Rail Committee. This participation represents a first in the country. The provincial government’s Department of Transport and Roads has established the Committee and includes Spoornet and business to try to incentivise a move from road to rail for loads that are suited to the tracked option. He says the business community really wants a strong rail link with Gauteng. Added to this is the Kei Rail Project, which seeks to revive the railway line between East London and Umtata for both commuters and freight. It is predominantly the forestry industry that sees a long term future in switching to rail transport. The discount airlines 1time and Kulula have been of tremendous benefit to East London, serving the East London/Johannesburg route. The introduction of regular lower fare flights has created a new dynamic in the region, with air travel now much more affordable, he explained. Added to this is 1Time’s recent addition of the East London-Cape Town route. Initially they have targeted the leisure sector, but as this grows more flights will be added for business as well, he added. East London does however need finality regarding the N2 toll road, he said. Notwithstanding the protest over the development, the Chamber has a view that upgrading the N2 will bring significant economic benefits to the region and those along the route. “We believe it will be a win-win situation for all,” he explained. The fate of the R72 coastal road that links Port Elizabeth with East London via Port Alfred is still under discussion. The business community wants the road to be taken over, upgraded and maintained by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), but there are some objections to this move that will take traffic from the N2. The Chamber is emphatic that it does not want the R72 to become part of the N2. SANRAL has expressed willingness to maintain it, but all objections and affected parties’ concerns must be taken care of before this can happen, he concluded.