4Tel CEO, Tony Crosby travelled to Johannesburg in August to attend the South Africa Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) conference. Held every two years, the conference showcases strategic issues in the South Africa rail industry while providing customers and suppliers the opportunity to present papers on engineering, operations, infrastructure, rolling stock, and manufacturing.
Tony commented that participating in the conference was very rewarding: “There were some informative presentations by Transnet executives on how the vertically integrated Transnet Freight Rail will split into two independent companies: a below rail network operator and maintainer, and an above rail train operating company. This structural separation of Transnet Freight Rail into separate above and below rail companies is a necessary step on the path to the introduction of an open access railway regime. I also had the opportunity to meet with the Transnet Freight Rail CEO during the conference.“
Additionally, the trip provided the opportunity for Tony to reconnect with Hannes Gräbe, Professor in Railway Engineering & Head of Department: Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria. Professor Gräbe managed the PhD of a student that 4Tel sponsored for the years 2019 and 2020. The sponsorship was a practical way for the 4Tel team to demonstrate our support for the next generation of engineers across the key markets in which we operate.