Updates To Transnet’s Draft Transnet Network Statement & Date Extension For IREC Consultation

Change Of Date: Consultation By The Interim Rail Economic Regulatory Capacity (IRERC) On The Draft Transnet Network Statement

Following the recent publication of the Draft Network Statement, by Transnet’s interim Infrastructure Manager on 15 March, which was then Gazetted by the Interim Rail Economic Regulatory Capacity (IRERC) for public comments on 19 March. Please take note of the following:

1. EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION FOR THE IRERC INFORMATION GATHERING SESSIONS.
   Please be advised that the registration deadline of 5th April 2024 for the IRERC Information Gathering Sessions, as stated in Gazette Notice 2384 of 2024 dated 19 March 2024, has been extended to 12th April 2024. Interested parties who would like to attend or make representations of their comments in person should follow the registration process outlined in the said Gazette.
2. The deadline for comments is 26 April 2024.
3. Relevant contact details: IRERC Secretariat; email: Irercsec@dot.gov.za – link to the site: https://www.transport.gov.za/?page_id=1419, scroll down to the following heading on the page: Consultation by the IRERC on the Draft Transnet Network Statement

According to the notice, IRERC anticipates that the entire process will take up to three months to complete from the date of the gazetting of the invitation for written comments. Thereafter, the Ministers will consider the IRERC recommendations and make final decisions on the recommendations from the IRERC. It is estimated Transnet will publish the final Network Statement within thirty (30) days of receiving the decisions from the Ministers on the IRERC’s recommendations. More information regarding the Draft Network Statement can be obtained from the Transnet website: https://www.transnet.net/Pages/Network-Statement.aspx

Updates To The Draft Network Statement Since Initial Publication:

• Annexure 1 has been updated with the latest shutdown schedule for 2024/25.
• Annexure 2-12 has been removed and will be made available when applications are lodged.
• Annexure 27 b & c has been consolidated into 1 document – Risk Analysis Guidelines.
• Annexure 29 has been updated to “Slot Application Request Template,” with revisions and condensing of the application document content.

The Announcement regarding the changes can be found here: https://www.transnet.net/Pages/Announcements.aspx

Rail Access Tariff Methodology

Interested parties are advised to take note that the published Rail Access Tariff Methodology document, submitted to IRERC in November 2023, indicates that “IM will begin offering open access from 1 April 2024”, however, the date for opening of applications is subject to the conclusion of the public consultation process facilitated by IRERC and finalization of tariffs.