TFR puts its best foot forward

“From a rail perspective we understand what you think of us. It’s a perception we have to deal with and it’s a service delivery we have to improve.” That was the candid message from Wiseman Madinane, Transnet Freight Rail executive manager in the intermodal business unit, when he addressed customers at a business breakfast hosted by Safmarine in Johannesburg recently. “Transnet is on a journey and we can’t do it without the private sector,” he said. Madinane believes that the road-rail strategy is often misunderstood. “It’s not about moving cargo from road to rail – it’s about redefining the supply chain and ensuring that we all play in a space that is cost-effective and efficient. “We have to reduce the cost of doing business and Transnet is key to that process, as is partnership with our stakeholders,” said Madinane, who joined the company six months ago from the private sector. “Transnet is encouraging people from the private sector to join them with fresh ideas and to blend those with the experience in the organisation,” he added. “It is planning a lot of investment both in people and infrastructure, and the container business is one of six strategic business units that Transnet has identified. “Between 2008 and last year we achieved 32% growth in this business unit. This year we’re sitting at a 20% increase in container volumes and our budget is over 35%.” This has been achieved, he said, without any infrastructure investment – and our infrastructure is under severe challenge at these volumes. “The volume of road traffic between Johannesburg and Durban is, however, clearly not sustainable,” said Madinane. “But as TFR we need to develop a service that is reliable.” He concedes that from Kings Rest to City Deep, TFR is not delivering to expectation. “We have therefore invited clients like Safmarine to tell us their problems in getting cargo to City Deep. “Based on that information, the organisation has reviewed the issues. “We are targeting 22 hours’ transit time on Natcor, but that’s not all that’s involved in getting a box to City Deep. It’s got to do with a range of issues like the dwell time at Kings Rest and the dwell time at the yard. All these key performance areas have been agreed with our customers and this information is reviewed on an ongoing basis and shared with them. “It’s an initiative that encourages public private partnership.” TFR is looking at key performance areas – like pilferage and how TFR gets the information to the customer when a wagon has been declared unfit and what happens to the cargo on those wagons. Missing containers, says Madinane, has a lot to do with discipline. “The system tells you where to park your container, and if you don’t follow those instructions to the letter, the container is lost.” Additional problems have arisen due to upgrades at City Deep where a lot of money is being invested. “We are working on all the lines and have 50% capacity on each. This means we can handle three rather than six trains a day, which is impacting on our operations. “We are in phase 2, going into phase 3 of our upgrade.” Recognising that City Deep will not be able to handle the expected growth, a lot of investment is also going into Kascon. “We are slabbing that and reclaiming some of the land to create more capacity.” Clearly there will continue to be disruptions during the upgrades, but with the support of its customers, TFR is determined to get it right and earn its rightful share of Natcor business – for the good of the organisation and for the country at large. CAPTION Wiseman Madinane … ‘It’s about redefining the supply chain.’