Road takes the load as more export trains are cancelled

THE CANCELLATION of export trains from City Deep to the Port of Durban is still a problem for container operators, according to an FTW source at the inland port. It was at its most noticeable three weeks ago, when eight export trains were cancelled in one day because of a shortage of locomotives, according to a Spoornet source. The fact that these trains were already loaded - and containers could not be discharged - put the container operators' contingency plans out of gear. So this event saw a number of containers failing to meet their stack dates and times, and some vessels having to sail short-shipped. But the problem seems to be on-going. During an FTW check-up on February 19, we were told that two export trains had just been cancelled for the day before - with the reason again a "shortage of locomotives". However, the good news in this case was that the operators' contingency plans could be put into operation. They were able to get their containers off the trains, and to send them off by the alternative road transport mode. "It's turning into a regular occurrence," FTW was told.