With most African railways having suffered a decline over the past decades improvement opportunities in parts of the African rail networks are finally on the increase. The challenges faced due to an upsurge in urbanisation and industrialisation have underscored the benefit of moving huge volumes of freight, and passengers, in a more energy-efficient and environmentally f r iend ly way.Continental Africa is an important export player, producing large volumes of bulk materials and liquids and other commodities, which are increasingly natural markets for the railways. Investment and renewed improvements in the African railways infrastructure would be especially beneficial for landlocked countries, creating more efficient transport corridors and connectivity for these high-capacity loads.“Modernised rail facilities will offer a greater alternative to road transport, which at times is very problematic to navigate due to the terrain being difficult to pass through and the poor infrastructure that currently exists,” says Kreason Pillay, director Africa, India and Middle East at M&S Logistics.M&S Logistics, a major ISO Tank Container company in South Africa, has been growing its business on the African continent for many years and is experienced in finding solutions to the many rapidly changing challenges that exist.“One of the biggest challenges we face on the continent is the lack of depot facilities,” says Pillay. “There are very few depot facilities that are skilled with the knowledge to handle, clean and maintain ISO tanks. This then creates a futile trip to position the empty ISO tank out of the country, which only serves to drive up costs.” However, with infrastructure development at the top of the agenda for many African countries, the landscape is beginning to change. “This is very good news for us, as logistics service providers, as it will lead to fewer delays and more efficient deliveries and could potentially drive down the cost of logistics on the continent. Given the bulk liquid storage issues in many parts of Africa, we have found great opportunities for the transport and storage of bulk liquids in the regions,” he says, indicating that despite the many challenges, Africa still provides significant opportunities. Sub-Saharan Africa is now a focus and we believe that we can assist in the movement of bulk liquid products via South Africa and other African countries into the landlocked regions and support the transport and storage of bulk liquid commodities. With the focus on Africa’s infrastructure development starting to show at the ports and in the development of inland cargo depots and further inroads into the development of the rail networks looking very positive, it will only enhance and improve logistics in Africa.”
