TFR sets ambitious GFB growth target

As Transnet Freight Rail’s
Market Demand Strategy
moves into high gear, the
rail utility is predicting its
biggest growth in general
freight business – expected
to move from 82mt in 2013
to 180mt by 2020.
“Container business has
been growing every year in
excess of inflation,” TFR
CEO Siyabonga Gama told
delegates at a JCCI business
breakfast in Johannesburg
last week. “We’re taking
good market share with15-
20% growth year on year.
“Our R201bn MDS is
a decisive intervention to
eliminate all challenges,”
he said. “We are upgrading
our rolling stock fleet and
infrastructure network after
years of delinquent underinvestment
and trying to
modernise our assets and
fleet. “
In the past the focus has
been on replacing existing
infrastructure, said Gama.
“From next year – 2014/15
– R13.6bn will be spent on
expansion; the following
year R20.4bn; and for the
next two years R17.9bn
and R15.2bn. Until now
R8.2bn has been invested in
expansion, so it’s growing.
“There’s been a lot of
investment in infrastructure
and locos which will taper
off over time. We will be
replacing half of the loco
fleet over the next 4-5 years.
“The turnaround has
begun,” said Gama. “We
have been able to stabilise
through the recession and
are starting to grow the
volumes.
“Freight rail is committed
to improving customer
service and we are
passionate about creating an
efficient and cost-effective
logistics platform for the
country. This is your new
partner in logistics,” he said.