Transnet SOC Ltd has delivered a critical milestone in the rail reform process and the successful introduction of third-party access to South Africa’s rail network through the recent publication of the Draft Network Statement.

The draft Network Statement, published by Transnet’s Interim Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), will be gazetted in the next few days by the Interim Rail Economic Regulatory Capacity (IRERC) for public comments.

The draft Network Statement contains – inter alia – rules, time limits, timelines, procedures, services, charging principles and terms and conditions governing the use of the railway infrastructure by Train Operating Companies (TOCs).

Furthermore, it contains information regarding Transnet’s operational corridors which make up the network; and Service Level Agreements to be entered into between the Infrastructure Manager and the TOCs.

Rail Reform, which has been brought about by the White Paper on National Rail Policy, given expression in the Economic Regulation of Transport (ERT) Bill, and further articulated in the Freight Logistics Roadmap, entails the vertical separation of the infrastructure and the train operating businesses of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR).