Transnet freight rail is the largest division of Transnet Limited, a public company with South African government as its sole shareholder. It is a world class heavy haul freight rail company that specialises in the transportation of freight. Transnet freight rail has approximately 38 000 employees, who are spread throughout the country.
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Natcor links Durban through an extensive rail network with Port Shepstone, Kroonstad, Richards Bay and Gauteng. Natcor forms the backbone of South Africa’s freight transportation network and is vital in facilitating economic growth for the country. The main components of the bulk freight corridor consist of the Port of Durban, well established road, rail and pipeline links to Gauteng, and inland freight terminals to service the broader Gauteng area and countries to the north of our border. This corridor is the artery to the busiest container Port in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.
Natcor rail line is approximately 688km long, is the critical link for the growth and volumes from the Port and sustain the growth of the economy. The rail market share has declined from deregulation in the 1987, subsequently the DoT approval of increased road vehicle axle mass in 1993 made road attractive for both long and short haul opportunities resulting in its ability to attract GFB volumes more competitive than rail, resulting in the erosion of the rail market share. The National Transport Master Plan Objective for Freight Transport is to move at least 2% of rail friendly freight from road to rail annually. Other objectives include to reduce the cost of doing business in SA to reduce National Logistics cost as a % of GDP and to reduce congestion on and damage to the N3.
Transnet has identified opportunities for future growth, which centers around driving an effective road to rail conversion through focusing on mainly on the General Freight Business (GFB) volumes. Natcor has the greatest opportunity for GFB growth especially with the Durban Port growth and the logistic solutions of Hubs and Back of Port Terminals being developed by the private sector.
Commodities
The main commodities transported on the corridor are:
Aviation Fuel
Beans
Containers
Diesel & Petrol
Gold Ore Crude
Maize
Motor Vehicles
Wheat
Durban
Ladysmith
Heidelberg
Bayhead
Bethlehem
City Deep
Durban Harbour
Johannesburg
Kascon
Kings Rest
Kroonstad
Newcastle
Pietermaritzburg
BPSA; Puma Energy; Shell
Brisen Commodities
Maersk; MSC
Afric Oil; Engen; Total
Harmony Gold
Cargill; Glenfood; COFCO
Ford; Hellmann
Foodcorp; Freightmax; Innex
Toyota SA