The 19% growth in TFR’s automotive and container unit signals both market share gain and the success of the division’s new operating model, Transnet said yesterday when it released financial results.
“Freight Rail was this year split into customer facing units to boost performance and customer satisfaction. The containers and automotive unit was used to pilot the division’s scheduled railway operating model,” a spokesman said.
The manganese and iron ore unit grew volumes by 11.2% to 31.7 million tonnes, achieving record-breaking weekly performances along the way. This performance was thanks to Transnet’s capital investment programme and improved operational efficiencies. Coal volumes increased by 7.8% to 41.6 million tonnes, compared with 38.6mt in the same period last year. The coal line’s performance was also driven by improved efficiency gains due to the deployment of new locomotives and scheduled infrastructure maintenance, the spokesman said.
“Freight Rail’s volume performance was achieved despite numerous customer-related issues, including a protracted dispute between mining giants and key customers, Kumba and ArcelorMittal, over pricing.
“Freight Rail’s focus on manufacturing and maintenance of rolling stock drove up Transnet’s rolling stock maintenance, engineering and manufacturing division Transnet Rail Engineering’s internal revenue by 25.6%. External revenue was 7.1% higher on increased sales of wagons and locomotives to the rest of the continent.”
