LEONARD DE VILLIERS | Local players can help Transnet to get trains running

Despite having the most advanced railway system on the continent, with about 30,000km of track, the SA rail and transportation sector is facing various significant challenges.

State-owned enterprise Transnet, which operates a freight rail division, is struggling with rampant vandalism, insufficient infrastructure and a lack of capacity and skills in its work force.

These challenges have resulted in significant disruptions and inefficiencies in the transportation network, hindering the smooth flow of goods and services, as well as public transport.

Compounding the problem is a lack of funding for critical projects and cumbersome procurement processes which is stalling decision-making and crippling the entity ’s ability to repair its dilapidated infrastructure. A significant indication of Transnet’s challenges is its decision to outsource certain railway lines, including the key container line between Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal.

This reflects the company’s need to seek external expertise and resources to overcome the deficiencies within its operations. Over the past few years, the Johannesburg to KZN container line has not been operating optimally, running at about 50% below capacity due to vandalism and theft.

At the same time, Transnet lacks the funding to embark on projects to repair the line, meaning it must turn to the private sector to get involved. With mounting pressure to remove at least some portion of the freight trucks that use SA’s ailing road network, it is expected that private sector investment and expertise will play a key role inbringing the railway line back tooperating at 90% capacity at least.

Several private sector companies are well-positioned to assist and could render support to any external group that takes over the operation of Transnet’s railway lines. With their local manufacturing capabilities, these companies can typically support all the equipment and systems on the line, offering a range of products, services and maintenance tailored to specific needs.

This would essentially contribute to the improvement of the overall efficiency, reliability and safety of the transportation network. At this stage, much of Transnet’s infrastructure is in dire need of maintenance and local specialist companies can carry out fault finding, repair the systems or offer solutions that will see trains moving again.

However, it is key that Transnet looks to SA-based companies to renew its rail infrastructure as localised expertise is crucial. SA railways are unique to Africa, so it would be less than ideal for a foreign entity to install systems not geared to the local environment on our infrastructure.

Many local players have development teams that specialise in designing solutions to uniquely SA challenges and many are already well versed with the problems faced by Transnet.

Additionally, local companies arealso familiar with local systems and requirements, such as SA signalling principles which are different to those in Europe. Thus, homegrown solutions and locally manufactured equipmentare much better suited.

■ De Villiers is general manager: Engineering Projects and Contracts at ACTOM Signalling