https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

TFR expects borderless train service to Maputo to raise commodity export tonnages

A rail line into the Maputo harbour

A rail line into the Maputo harbour

Photo by Creamer Media

21st April 2023

By: Terence Creamer

Creamer Media Editor

     

Font size: - +

South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is preparing to materially increase the number of weekly trains operating on that component of its North East Corridor that transports export commodities through Mozambique’s Maputo port.

Once commercial agreements for a so-called ‘borderless’ train service have been finalised with Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), TFR expects to increase the number of weekly trains carrying chrome from 12 to 21, and those carrying magnetite from 17 to 28.

The rail operator is also preparing to increase the number of trains moving rock phosphate and coal through Maputo.

The two rail operators signed an in-principle agreement in February to enable the uninterrupted passage of freight trains between the two countries, following joint pilots of the run-through model over a period of more than nine months.

“Through this pilot phase, the two rail operator companies clearly demonstrated that the run-through model was a more efficient operating proposition, with great potential to make rail a more competitive option on this channel,” TFR chief commercial officer Bonginkosi Mabaso tells Engineering News & Mining Weekly.

The North East Corridor, which also includes a service to Richards Bay, has hitherto involved pre-inspection events at multiple points on the network to Maputo, while crew and traction changes (from electric to diesel and vice versa) have also resulted in significant delays and extended turnaround times.

“The borderless service will see two inspections – at point of origin and destination, one traction model throughout the roundtrip and no locomotive changes in Komati.

“This will significantly reduce transit and cycle times,” Mabaso says, while refraining from offering specific volume and cost guidance.

He reports that no final date is available for the start of the service “as commercial agreements are under discussion currently”.

The corridor’s performance has also been affected by a limited availability of locomotives, owing to the absence of maintenance contracts with suppliers and a protracted impasse over the supply of spare parts for locomotives supplied by Chinese company CRRC.

In February, TFR reported that there were 356 so-called long-standing locomotives, including 164 CRRC locomotives.

TFR has reached settlement agreements with its other locomotive suppliers with which it is also entering into maintenance contracts.

However, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan will travel to China this month in an effort to “fast-track the delivery of locomotives and spare parts by Chinese State-owned CRRC e-Loco Supply to Transnet”.

If Gordhan fails, TFR will need to find an alternate source of spares supply for the CRRC locomotives.

Under such a process, which will involve another original-equipment manufacturer stepping in to provide spares and maintenance, it is expected that it will take about 24 months before the first CRRC locomotive can be reinstated.

A deal with CRRC should see the first long-standing locomotives returned to service within about six months.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Schauenburg SmartMine IoT
Schauenburg SmartMine IoT

SmartMine IoT has been developed with the mining industry in mind, to provides our customers with powerful business intelligence and data modelling...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 04 October 2024
Magazine round up | 04 October 2024
4th October 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.15 0.194s - 170pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now