THE NEED FOR RAIL AND PORTS INTEGRATION

Presented by

Bernard DzawandaExecutive Director

Southern African Railways Association

Khartoum, Sudan7 November 2006

1.Background

• Countries engage in international trade and therefore there is need for movement of goods.

• Multimodal transport required in most cases.• Seaports play a key interface role between the

sea based & surface transport modes.• Rail is one of the most important mode of

transport.• Both rail & ports are integral elements of the

logistics chain.

“A chain is as strong as its weakest link”

Geographical Map of rail linesGeographical Map of rail lines

Lesotho Presentation

Malaw

i

Gabon Congo Kenya

Zambia

BotswanaNamibia

South Africa

Mad

agas

car

Mauritius

Moz

ambi

que

Tanzania

BurundiDemocratic Republic of Congo

Rwanda

Zimbabwe

Uganda

Angola

Swaziland

2. Characteristics of rail transport

• Bulk carrier.• Suitable for long haul.• Economies of scale.• Relatively cheaper mode of transport.• Often has direct links between major

industrial nodes and seaports on either side of the sea.

• Ability to handle a broad range of products.

3. The integration process3.1 Areas of focus

A number of critical areas have to be synchronised between rail and ports to achieve improve efficiency and growth in business. These include the following among others;– Investment planning especially on infrastructure to give rail easy access

to ports.– Harmonisation of rail & port operating philosophies– Improved communication & information exchange.– Joint marketing especially on the basis of rail corridor concept.– Jointly setting performance targets.– Joint operational planning.– Both rail & ports should invest in resources for them to be able to meet

customer requirements and improve their competitiveness.

“Corridor Management Concept”

D.R. CONGOZAMBIA

TANZANIA

MOZAMBIQUE

MALAWIANGOLA

NAMIBIA ZIMBABWE

BOTSWANA

SOUTH AFRICA

SWAZILAND

Schematic of Rail CorridorsSchematic of Rail Corridors

Smartpartnership Lesotho

• UPINGTON • MAFIKENG•B

EIT

BR

IDG

E•GOLELA

• PLUMTREE

• VIC FALLS

• NDOLA

• NKM

DAR ES SALAAM .

• ENTRE LAGOS

•MACHIPANDA

•CHICUALACUALA

•KOMATIPOORT

•MAPUTONamRail

SNCC

ZRL

TZR

CEAR

CFM

SR

BR

NRZBBR

SPOORNET

North-East

Dar es Salaam

Maputo/Swaziland

Richards bay

Malawi

Namibia

The integration process contd

3.2 Steps to improve rail intermodal role (by ports)• A critical review of current rail services offered.• An assessment of port/rail customer needs.• An assessment of rail needs vis-à-vis the port• Identification of opportunities for rail-oriented traffic

growth.• Integration of rail plans with existing and planned port

infrastructure improvements.• Designing an ongoing self sustaining process for future

service evaluation.

4.Benefits of integration

• Elimination of congestion in ports.• Improved transit times.• Quick turnaround of key rail operational

resources.• Improved utilisation of resources.• Predictability of service.• Strengthening of the logistics chain.• Improved competitiveness of ports hence

increase in business volume.• Reduction in the cost of doing business.

5. Rail challenges & way forward5.1 Capacity

a). Infrastructure

• Lack of investment in rail tracks in terms constructing new lines & maintaining existing ones.

• Affects transit times and safety of cargo and equipment.

b) Equipment

• Shortage of locomotives & wagon.

• Maintenance backlog

• Affect reliability of service

Rail challenges & way forward contd5.2 Way forward

a) Government investment in rail infrastructure in line with the Brazzaville Declaration of 2006.

b) Private sector participation.

c) Efficient utilisation of available resources by railways.

d) Increased utilisation of rail by ports to boost rail market share.

6. Conclusion

Scope exists for rail and port integration and both stand to benefit from such integration. There is therefore need for rail and ports to move hand in glove into the future. Customers will ultimately benefit from this collaboration.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION