Question NW3443 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
24 November 2023 - NW3443
Cachalia, Mr G K to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
Considering that a road to rail initiative between Transnet Freight Rail, Transnet Port Terminals and Maersk aims to move freight from the Ngqura Container Terminal to Port Elizabeth Port Terminal via a 50 cart locomotive line, and noting that the specified initiative would potentially remove 50 trucks off the roads during the citrus season, what progress has been made to date on the initiative in terms of (a) dates, (b) terms and (c) security arrangements in particular?
Reply:
According to the information received from Transnet:
The triangular rail shuttle between the Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) of Ngqura (NCT), the Port of Port Elizabeth (PECT) and the TFR Deal Party container Terminal (PEG) started in June 2023 and continues to operate.
a) Progress made:
During June
The route between NCT and PECT (1480 TEUs) runs 15 trains that are made up of 50 wagons per train. The Reefer containers are all 40-foot containers which is equivalent to two x 20-foot containers. A single wagon carries one x 40-foot container and a total of 50 containers. The above scenario will remove 740 trucks from the road.
During September / October
The route between PECT and NCT based on 3 trains is equivalent to the removal of 150 trucks off the road.
b) The Inter-Terminal rail shuttle is an ongoing service that is based on customer demand. The service is not only restricted to the citrus season (reefer containers) but is a service offering throughout the year for general-purpose (GP) containers.
c) Stringent security measures have been instituted to ensure minimal security-related disruptions to the rail service. The Reefers are first inspected at the handover point at all Terminals by TFR Security Services. The Railway Police were called in as reinforcement when the service began operating in June 2023 to mitigate against the high-risk hotspot areas for criminal activity, which includes New Brighton.
Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved
Jacy Molisane P J Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date: