The successful test run, conducted in partnership with Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager, paves the way for Grindrod to transport coal from Mpumalanga to its Matola Terminal in Mozambique from next year
Rail companies Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and Grindrod have successfully completed the first private test train on the North-East Corridor, positioning Grindrod among the operators set to move coal along the route.
The test took place on November 1, when a train comprising Grindrod-owned locomotives and wagons departed from Komatipoort. It returned the following day carrying 2,991 metric tonnes of cargo, making Grindrod the first private Train Operating Company (TOC) to operate on South Africa’s national freight rail network under the country’s open-access framework.
“The successful completion of this test train is a landmark achievement for South Africa’s rail reform programme. It demonstrates that open access is no longer a policy concept but an operational reality. Through collaboration with private operators such as Grindrod, we are creating a more competitive and efficient rail network that supports economic growth and strengthens South Africa’s logistics capability,” said Moshe Motlohi, Chief Executive of Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager.
From next year, Grindrod will use its two allocated slots on the North-East Corridor to transport coal from Mpumalanga to its Matola Terminal in Mozambique.
The company aims to transport approximately 288,000 tonnes of coal during its first year of operations.
“This is an important milestone for Grindrod and for the transformation of South Africa’s freight logistics sector. As an integrated logistics provider, the ability to combine rail operations with our terminal infrastructure and corridor footprint enables us to deliver greater efficiency, reliability and value to our customers. We are proud to partner with TRIM in demonstrating the practical benefits of rail reform and helping restore rail as the backbone of bulk freight transport,” said Kwazi Mabaso, Group Chief Executive Officer of Grindrod Limited.
The companies said the North-East Corridor, which links South Africa’s mining and industrial heartland with regional markets and export gateways, has an important role to play in unlocking additional capacity, improving competitiveness and supporting regional trade.