Just did a little research on truck freight in general in South...

Just did a little research on truck freight in general in South Africa and one of the most dominate trucking is coal trucks however there have been 400 trucks taken off the road and that material ( Coal ) will be transported via rail. I think your view on locals being concerned about westwits using trucks to convey tailings etc on roads in South Africa is insignificant, considering the number of trucks that freight Coal.
Transnet Reduces Truck Congestion in Richards Bay.pdf
MEDIA STATEMENT
UPDATE: TRANSNET REDUCES TRUCK CONGESTION IN RICHARDS BAY
[Johannesburg, Thursday, 2 May 2024]: Transnet’s Freight Rail (TFR) division has
embarked on a ramp up of GF coal trains from 21 trains a week to 28 trains a week, supported
by an injection of locomotives.
This is part of Transnet’s Recovery Plan initiatives, and a commitment made to the City of
uMhlathuze leadership and other stakeholders during the Stakeholder Collaboration on Truck
Congestion Solutions meeting held in the Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal, on 21
November 2023.
The main objective of the ramp-up was to reduce truck loads and migrate volume from road
to rail. All Transnet customers that were road hauling to the port of Richards Bay at the time
were identified and approached directly to indicate interest in participating in a test train
service.
Further, the intention of the test was to enable Transnet and the customers to assess train
loading capabilities and rail friendliness of their cargo for each of the parties that were road
hauling to the port. The test was focused on the following areas:
• Siding capabilities and readiness
• Cargo suitability for rail loading
• Status of the network
• Train handling times
• Train turnaround times, etc.
“As of 31 March 2024, the test train initiative had seen TFR moving 106 000 tons from Road
to Rail whilst removing approximately 3 100 truckloads from the roads (6 200 truck
movements, including the empty leg).
“To date seven customers, a majority of whom were 100% on road before, have been tested.
The process to test the remaining customers is ongoing, subject to available capacity on a
week-by-week basis,” says Theo Johnson, Acting Managing Executive on the North Corridor.
The test train initiative was offered with a clear proviso that it does not constitute a
commitment for rail capacity in the long term, as there are structured ongoing processes for
capacity allocation, added Johnson.
The ramp up is the latest positive development after the coal export conveyor belt, which had
been out of service for two years due to fire damage, came back into full operation at Richards
Bay terminals, according to Transnet Port Terminals (TPT). Commissioned at the end of
December after rigorous tests were carried out successfully, it is has taken off the road over
400 trucks.
This belt was among three that were gutted by fire in October 2021. The 2,2 KM long conveyor
belt has an output of more than three million tons per year.
Procurement processes to repair the remaining two are at an advanced stage.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Transnet SOC Ltd.
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