Transnet has officially launched a 375-wagon manganese train, with a total length of 4 km, breaking the world record. The train will run on an 861-km distance from Sishen iron mine, located in Kathu (central South Africa) to Saldanha harbor, on the south-western coast of South Africa.
This train has also broken Transnet own record, as initially, the company introduced a 342-car train transporting iron-ore on the same route.
“This is in line with TFR’s business objective of applying the heavy haul operating, maintenance, design, construction and best practice principles on General Freight operations, and the Transnet Strategy of migrating traffic from road to rail,” said Lloyd Tobias, Transnet Freight Rail CEO.
The operator has tested the train since October 2018 and received the approval from the national Rail Safety Regulator. “Transnet is proud to now officially launch this, with the 375-wagon train being the most advanced and efficient of its kind in the world,” Transnet Chief Operating Officer, Richard Vallihu.
The project will increase the manganese volumes by optimising the use of existing assets, locomotives and wagons.
According to estimations, Transnet Freight Rail has saved R1 billion (USD 68.5 million) by successfully trial the train, which will contribute to the improvement of manganese export, adding an extra capacity of 1 million tonnes on its network. Transnet Freight Rail has considerably increased its manganese export, from 5 million tonnes in 2013, to 15.1 million tonnes in 2019.
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