Volumes are up and rail has become more efficient, according to Johny Smith, chief executive officer of TransNamib.Over the past year there has been a 10% growth in volumes and the lines are operating more efficiently, he says.
“Rail will become more competitive as the company increases its capacity and continues to become more productive and efficient.”There is a new management team in place, which is approaching rail with fresh enthusiasm and a different mindset to the previous leadership says Smith, who took the wheel at TransNamib in February 2018.All managers, including Smith, have signed performance contracts.
“We are close to completing the process mapping of the business, which will enable us to identify where we can improve efficiencies as we rethink the role of rail. “Given the efficiencies that should create, we must be able to attract more cargo to rail,” he says.The systems are clicking into place, with TransNamib being given its first unqualified audit in decades for the last financial year.
The business plan has also been adopted by the board (also all new), which means it is all systems go, says Smith. Instead of investing in new equipment in order to increase capacity, the plan is to refurbish existing rolling stock.“We believe we can increase capacity by 15% using existing equipment,” says Smith.Over the next two to three years 33 of TransNamib’s GE locomotives will be refurbished and modernised.
