The heavy haul industry should work hard to improve the efficiency of rail operations, cut costs of doing business and create internationally competitive supply chains, says Transnet Group CE Siyabonga Gama.

He told delegates at the eleventh International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) conference, in Cape Town, this week, that heavy haul operations were the most efficient way to carry bulk over long distances “at this time and in this era.”

Gama was speaking at the opening of the conference, where around 1 000 participants from 39 countries are meeting this week to share ways of making the industry more efficient despite tough global conditions prompted partly by a slowdown in China’s economy.

The Transnet CE recognised the role heavy haul rail could play in boosting economic growth.

“We want to use infrastructure to change intra-African trade, improve the standards of living of our people and create jobs.”

Gama said he believed South Africa was at the cutting edge of the heavy haul industry, as demonstrated by its 342-wagon trains that carry iron-ore from the Northern Cape to Saldanha in the Western Cape.

The use of new technologies has helped the famously long iron-ore train increase speed, while improving braking and control and reducing wear and tear on rails and wheels.

“It’s the longest train in the world. We have eight trains doing this on a daily basis,” Gama told the conference, which is themed ‘Advancing Heavy Haul Technologies and Operations in a Changing World’.

Transnet capital planning GM Brian Monakali said a crucial aim of the conference was to conduct a “health check” of railways around the world to identify common challenges and solutions.

“The world is indeed changing and our customers are demanding high efficiency levels, safe operations and a reliable and predictable service. The markets are also not in our favour most of the time.

“We also need to start visualising the railway of the future, considering aspects such as technological advancements and railway capacity development plans,” said Monakali.

Participants at the conference are also discussing some of the strategic issues faced by the international railway community. Monakali said the main strategic issues in Africa were inadequate inter-connectivity of railway lines and scarcity of funding, both for infrastructure projects and research and development.

Monakali, who was recently elected chairperson of the IHHA, said it was important to empower railway personnel through developing technical skills. He hoped emerging railway professionals could learn from railway experts, many of whom had been in the game for up to 40 years.

His comments were echoed by Gama, who called for more young people to enter the industry.

The conference is being held amid challenges in the global heavy haul industry. Only 15% of South Africa’s rail-friendly freight is transported by rail. The global slowdown has had a ripple effect across supply chains and industry sectors, with declining volumes, incomes and profits.

The IHHA conference is being held in South Africa for the second time. It was first hosted in South Africa 20 years ago.

Apart from bringing together heavy haul executives and engineers, the conference has also drawn academics from around the world, with 189 technical papers from 35 countries being presented this week.

The IHHA is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in heavy haul operations, engineering, maintenance and technology.