Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has announced an increase in the number of GF-class coal trains moving cargo to the Port of Richards Bay, ramping up from 21 to 28 trains per week.
The rail division’s initiative is part of Transnet’s Recovery Plan and aims to address truck congestion solutions identified during a stakeholder collaboration in November 2023.
TFR’s objective is to reduce truck loads and shift volume from road to rail. As part of the effort, Transnet approached its customers directly to participate in a test train service, assessing train loading capabilities and cargo suitability for rail transportation.
The test focused on siding capabilities, cargo readiness, network status, train handling times, and turnaround times.
Theo Johnson, TFR’s acting managing executive for the North Corridor, reported that the initiative has successfully moved 106,000 tonnes of cargo from road to rail by March 31, equivalent to removing approximately 3,100 truckloads from the roads.
Seven customers have participated in the test train initiative so far, with ongoing testing subject to available capacity on a week-by-week basis.
It’s important to note that the test train initiative does not guarantee long-term rail capacity, as there are structured processes for capacity allocation.
This ramp-up in train frequency comes as a positive development following the restoration of the coal export conveyor belt at Richards Bay terminals, which was out of service for two years due to fire damage.
The conveyor belt’s commissioning at the end of December has relieved truck congestion by taking more than 400 trucks off the road. Plans are underway to repair the remaining two belts, signaling further progress in enhancing port operations.
