TFR to launch express service

Transnet Freight Rail is
set to launch an express
train service between
Durban and Johannesburg
that will cut throughput
time to around 40 hours
from Durban Container
Terminal to consignment
available at City Deep.
The rail utility has
begun a trial run on the
Natcor line and plans to
offer a daily service on the
route once all the teething
problems have been ironed
out.
“We fully understand
the role that TFR has to
play in reducing the cost of
doing business by reducing
the cost of logistics,”
TFR executive manager:
intermodal business unit,
Wiseman Madinane, told
FTW.
“That’s our life. We
think, eat, breathe and
sleep how to run trains
better. By reducing the
throughput times between
Durban and Johannesburg
from 118 hours in 2013,
to 99 hours in 2014, to
84 hours in 2015, and
60 hours from the initial
express trial results, we
believe we will be able to
attract time-sensitive and
high-value cargo that has
never been on rail.”
TFR is currently in talks
with all internal stake
holders to ensure that they
are all on board.
Clearly integration with
the ports will be critical
to the success of the new
service, and plans are
already in place to address
the challenges.
“On the port side, under
the current model, you
run to stack. This model
requires the vessel to be
discharged to stack, and
from stack you feed rail.
For these kinds of hours
to be achieved we want
customers to block stow on
the vessel so that we load
directly from vessel to rail,”
said Madinane. “That way
you can shave off a good 14
hours which we believe will
be a big game-changer.”
Several other
interventions will be put in
place to ensure there are no
delays.
“We’ll make sure that
the wagons we send to
port for this train are fully
technically pre-inspected
so that when they come out
loaded from the port we do
minimum testing and they
depart.”
The express train will
also be scheduled outside
of the metro peak – both
from the Durban and
Johannesburg side – which
will require customer
collaboration.
Security will be top
priority and the
train will be
guarded
all the
way with
on board
security.
“Ultimately we hope to agree
with the unions to a twocrewing
model on the express
service that will enable a
non-stop train service
through its journey.”
This premium service
will clearly attract a
premium rate. “But if
you can afford to pay the
kind of cost associated
with the alternative
transport option
between Durban and
Johannesburg this
service will offer
superiority and
security,” said
Madinane.
INSERT & CAPTION
We believe we will be
able to attract timesensitive
and highvalue
cargo that has
never been on rail.
– Wiseman Madinane