TFR clarifies rate increase time-table

DESPITE NATIONAL
newspaper reports, Transnet
Freight Rail has denied that
it plans to apply an acrossthe-
board price increase of
16.5% - 22% from April for
general freight cargo.
According to TFR
spokesman, Sandile Simelane,
the railway operator follows a
differential pricing approach –
and the price increases quoted
in the press are specific to
grain industry customers.
And, although TFR has
had its annual price review
and future strategy meeting
with the Chamber of Milling,
other major customers are
still in the dark about what
they will eventually have to
pay.
Discussions with various
rail contractors – who gobble
up the bulk of TFR’s freight
capacity – revealed that
some are due for meetings
with the railway operator
this week.
Also, one contractor told
FTW that the indication
of the price rises they
would face, according to
information from TFR, was
“rather unclear” but the
new rates looked as though
they’d be “anything from
10% upwards”.