Transnet Freight Rail resumes limited train services due to heavy floods

Government-owned Transnet Freight Rail has commenced limited train services, primarily on the North East Corridor branch lines in Witbank, Belfast, Lydenburg, and Steelpoort regions.

The resumption follows a massive service disruption caused by floods during the past week.

TFR said operations started in earnest on February 13 across the corridor branch line network, with Transnet teams continuing to work on clearing staged trains and the backlog on the Witbank to Richards Bay corridor, a channel for exporting coal, chrome, and ferrochrome.

The decision to resume services comes after an extensive safety exercise, which included a trolley trip by TFR engineers.

“TFR engineers, maintenance, and safety teams are on the ground 24/7 and continue to work towards the repair and rehabilitation of the remaining part of the rail network, notably the over-border regional links with TCM/Maputo and eSwatini, where massive floods caused the most damage, namely rail washaways,” TFR said in a statement.

“TFR would like to thank all stakeholders, including members of the community across the rail corridors, and customers, as well as our employees who have worked tirelessly in ensuring that repair operations are done efficiently and effectively.

“Further, the network between Waterval Boven – also known as Emgwenya – Nelspruit and Komatipoort remains suspended owing to falling rock boulders blocking off the line, which is a direct consequence of stronger than usual rainfall patterns in this region, and has negatively impacted on the rock phosphate and magnetite flows to Richards Bay.”

BusinessTech Africa has learned that full resumption of services will happen once the lines are declared safe.

“TFR continues with the rehabilitation work and continues to keep its customers and stakeholders updated on the status of the rail service as well as the ongoing recovery efforts.”