helen mba _2 - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

For an efficient multimodal system, the different transport systems have to becoordinated to accomplish intermodal transport. Multimodal planning focuses onsystem choices, whereas intermodal planning emphasises the most efficient way ofmoving from point to point through the system (Meyer, 1992: 6).Cooperative agreements between private operators and state-owned interest formthe basis for such an intermodal service. Apart from being involved in providing thephysical and administrative infrastructure, government is also partially involved inorganisations such as Transnet, who are responsible for particular transport services(Department of Public Enterprise, 2002).Chapter three deals with the intermodal evolution, the advantages of intermodalism,and the deregulation of the industry. This will be followed by the evolution andintegration of containerisation. Thereafter, consideration will be given to whatknowledgeable people have to say about the intermodal industry in the NMMM, andhow this can be linked to the theory of competitive advantage discussed in Chaptertwo.3.2 THE INTERMODAL EVOLUTIONThe concept of logistically linking two or more modes of transport may be centuriesold, but the wider use of this form of transport has developed fully only over the last fewdecades. Intermodal transport has become a major growth industry in South Africasince the mid 1960’s, and has led to a reduction in transport costs and improvedlogistics worldwide. Intermodalism is thus not a new concept, but is novel in its refinedform. Historically, the crossing of rivers had to be accomplished by utilising means oftransport different from those used for overland transport. Where land-waterboundaries caused a change in the means of locomotion, an intermodal exchangehad to take place. This simplified view on intermodality formed the basis for the78