Transnet strike sets back rail promotion efforts

Ladies & Wheels continues rail ‘crusade’ JOY ORLEK MARIA RAMOS, Jeff Radebe and Siyabonga Gama have said it – and so have a host of other industry stakeholders. Moving more goods by rail will free up South Africa’s congested roads and positively benefit the environment – but without adequate service levels, this will remain nothing more than a pipe dream. One of the champions of greater rail utilisation is recently established Ladies & Wheels. The black empowerment company set up its City Deep-based operation late last year and embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign to convert road to rail. But winning customers from roadfreight is a steep challenge right now. “The Transnet strike affected us badly,” manager Mabel Mshayisa told FTW. “We’ve been trying to build up confidence but customers don’t trust rail, and it’s difficult to convince them otherwise.” Power outages have also played a role in rail’s somewhat dismal showing. But Mshayisa is optimistic that once the Transnet dispute has been resolved and with the backing of Spoornet, customers will begin to consider the rail alternative once more.