Russell Baatjies, the Chief Executive of Transnet Freight Rail, expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming Southern African Railways Association (SARA) conference in August. He highlighted the importance of this event for key stakeholders in the rail industry to come together and address critical issues facing the sector.
Transnet Freight Rail is undergoing significant changes, soon to be restructured into what will be known as TFROC [Transnet Freight Rail Operating Company] and TRIM [Transnet Rail Infrastructure Management]. The current focus is on rebuilding rail capabilities and increasing rail volumes. A crucial aspect of this effort is improving safety and efficiency across the network.
One of the major challenges highlighted is the maintenance backlog within the South African rail industry. Baatjies emphasised the need to address this backlog not only to increase rail volumes but also to ensure the network’s overall health, looking at the safety of the network and reducing incidents. The SARA conference and exhibition presents Transnet with the opportunity to explore new technologies and machinery that can expedite maintenance interventions for both infrastructure and signalling systems.
Transnet Freight Rail is keen to learn about the latest technological advancements and establish partnerships with industry players to accelerate maintenance and enhance the rail network’s performance. The event will also serve as a platform for Transnet’s engineers to gain insights and explore opportunities from suppliers across South Africa, Africa and the International market.
Baatjies encourages all stakeholders to book their seats for the conference via the SARA website. He stressed the importance of attendance, as the collective effort of all industry participants is crucial to improving the rail network. Transnet Freight Rail is eager to see the innovations and solutions that will be showcased and to collaborate with partners to revitalise the rail sector.
The Transnet Freight Rail team is looking forward to the SARA conference, anticipating fruitful discussions and opportunities to drive the growth and efficiency of the rail industry in South Africa.
