SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet has re-opened the freight route between Pretoria North and Hercules, which has been closed since August 2014 owing to cable theft and sabotage.
Reopening is intended to improve the efficiency and reliability of trains serving customers in the mining and automotive sectors, supporting Transnet’s road-to-rail modal shift strategy. It is also part of a programme of collaboration with passenger operator Prasa which aims to identify their common challenges and jointly develop ways to improve services for both freight customers and passengers.
‘The reopening of the line, which has been enabled for the most part by listening to people running the operations and implementing their proposals, will result in a more reliable network, which we believe will improve customer satisfaction’, said Transnet Freight Rail CEO Siza Mzimela on June 8.
‘We will curb cable thefts through aggressive initiatives such as reviewing operations methods, augmenting the physical guarding of assets with technology and engineering solutions. This we will do in partnership with our key stakeholders such as Prasa and the South African Police Service, and by so doing, we will ensure that TFR delivers on time to customers in this important economic area.’
