TRF debunks monopoly moniker

Transnet Freight Rail
has committed to
building further industry
collaboration opportunities,
investing in modern
equipment and extending
and upgrading its rail
network to up its operational
efficiency.
That was the message
from assistant to the chief
executive, Molatwane
Likhete, who told delegates
at last week’s Transport
Special Interest Group
monthly Transport Forum
in Johannesburg that TFR
had recognised that to
achieve and sustain its goals,
collaboration was the way
to go and the rail utility
was increasingly embracing
partnerships.
Responding to concerns
raised about the its perceived
monopoly, Likhete said:
“We see rail as a key enabler
linking South Africa to
its regional markets and
therefore the road to rail
migration initiative is a
cornerstone of Transnet’s
Market Demand Strategy
(MDS). We are keenly aware
that we cannot achieve
this without the assistance
and buy-in of our logistics
industry partners.”
He told FTW that freight
volumes transported by rail
during the first quarter of
2014 had grown by 4% while
road freight volumes had
seen 0.4% growth. “This
shows us that we are moving
in the right direction.