Rail renaissance based on strategic market segmentation principles

Date
2012
Authors
Havenga, Jan H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of South Africa (Unisa)
Abstract
South Africa’s annual State of Logistics survey indicates that the majority of dense, long-distance surface freight is transported by road, placing severe constraints on the country’s freight logistics infrastructure and posing a significant exogenous risk to the growth aspirations of the country. This risk is attributable to the excessive demand for road freight transport, which is dependent on imported fuel at highly unstable prices and is more damaging to the environment – leading to uncertain future offset charges. A rail solution can utilise locally generated electricity (currently coalbased, but partially switchable to renewable energy in the future). The critical requirement, however, is to determine exactly how much freight, and specifically which freight, can switch to rail. In order to identify the freight flows that will exploit rail’s economic fundamentals, a market segmentation model was developed. A feasible target market was identified that enables key stakeholders (government, the national railroad and major road service providers) to engage in ensuring that the urgent planned R300 billion infrastructure spending by the public and private sectors is invested in suitable freight logistics infrastructure to support the country’s growth ideals sustainably.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.ajol.info/index.php/sabr/article/view/85453
Keywords
Railroads -- Freight -- South Africa, Transport modal shift -- South Africa, State of logistics -- South Africa
Citation
Havenga, J.H. 2012. Rail renaissance based on strategic market segmentation principles. Southern African Business Review, 16(1):1-21.