Vehicles for Hire

With the National Rail Policy (NRP) emphasising the introduction of high speed standard gauge rail (SGR) technology on South Africa’s major rail networks, rail infrastructure consulting company Taylorail CEO David Taylor says this will make rail, as a mode of transport, a competitor for long-distance, regional travel such as from Johannesburg to Durban or Cape Town. “Generally, rail transport is a more seamless form of transport for passengers who [can] arrive at the centre of a town and be only a short distance from their ultimate destination. Rail travel is marketable to the South African public because the air travel market from Johannesburg to Cape Town is significant, with about 24 000 commercial flights a year.”

Liberalising rail will allow for rail freight to be operated with the efficiency of the private sector at the core of designed operations, says rail infrastructure consulting company Taylorail CEO David Taylor. Taylor says this will allow for end-clients to benefit from lower cost-per-ton deliveries that will, in turn, promote a relationship defined on a service-level basis, with contractual mechanisms in place to enforce performance.

Train operators are working to restore the condition of South Africa’s rail network, including trains and stations, which is in “dire straits”, says Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) chief operations officer Tshepo Kgare. “The ageing infrastructure and limited capacity to move more goods and passengers is a challenge. Rehabilitation, maintenance and upgrades of the infrastructure is imperative.”

New research shows how better collaboration with suppliers can help minimize supply disruptions, improve sustainability efforts, and promote innovation. Plus: Gartner’s Global Supply Chain Top 25 list is released; drayage rates continue to climb.