Preparation for Dudula/CSX concessioning bid Sithembiso Mthethwa . . . ‘Rail efficiency will contribute to terminal efficiency.’ Alan Peat THE US/SA partnership of Durban-based Dudula Shipping and US company CSX World Terminals (CSXWT) has just completed a study aimed at optimising and improving the critical rail link between the port of Durban and the Johannesburg City Deep intermodal staging facility. This study has been part of the joint-venture company’s preparations to bid for the privatisation of Durban container terminal, Dudula-CSXWT’s CEO, Sithembiso Mthethwa, told FTW. “We believe the efficiencies of the rail and other allied services supporting the port would contribute greatly to the efficiency of the container terminal,” he said. The necessary railway expertise backing the study comes from the other CSX Corporation subsidiary, CSX Rail, which FTW was told operates the largest railroad on the eastern seaboard of the USA. Commissioned by the SA government and funded mostly by CSX - with support from the US Trade and Development Agency - this report has now been completed and submitted to the KZN ministry of economic development and tourism. The various parties involved have expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the study - designed to assess what had to be done to improve operating efficiencies on the rail line - and are now considering the various options put forward. While initial information suggested that the details of the report - together with its recommendations - were expected to be made public, there is some doubt that this will now be the case.
