Regional rail integration takes a step forward

A joint operating centre (JOC) to promote regional railway integration and improve cross-border efficiencies will open in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe within the next two months. This follows the establishment of JOCs in Johannesburg; Maputo, Mozambique; and Mahalapye, Botswana over the past few months to synergise rail activities, planning and communication between the different countries on three important trade corridors namely, north-south, east-west and Maputo. “We see these joint operating centres as a major milestone towards creating an efficient, cost-effective rail transport system in the southern African region. The beauty of these centres is they are staffed with independent operators who have no prior affiliation to any of the national railway bodies involved, ensuring neutrality,” said Transnet Freight Rail chief executive, Siyabonga Gama, adding that the centres are also mandated to address certain issues on the ground. Speaking to FTW on the sidelines of the Southern Africa Railways Association (Sara) conference in Midrand last week, he said that the JOCs would be responsible for tracking, monitoring and transparent reporting on trains crossing the borders. “This will allow all regional rail bodies to identify where the bottlenecks are and address them, ensuring real-time communication and deviation-management,” said Gama. He added that the JOC operating model formed part of Transnet’s Africa strategy and was aligned with Sara’s strategic integration objectives. “Misaligned regional goals, lack of communication between stakeholders and varying standards of operation have been some of the biggest challenges faced in our integration objectives. The creation of the JOCs will facilitate joint planning and step up overall corridor performance,” said Stephenson Ngubane, Sara board member and chief executive of Swaziland Railways. Other initiatives to align strategies, driven by Sara, include working towards an automated customs clearance system and creating regional policies around safety. INSERT & CAPTION Joint operating centres will be responsible for tracking, monitoring and transparent reporting on trains crossing the borders. – Siyabonga Gama