TFR seeks 100% growth on its heavy haul tracks

Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR) heavy haul railway expansions are well under way with one project already in construction phase and another only awaiting funding. According to Brian Monakali, general manager: capital planning at TFR, the goal is to double the country’s heavy haul railway lines to more than 4 000 kilometres in the next twenty years. He said development of the country’s third heavy haul corridor was progressing well. “The objective is to create rail capacity from the Northern Cape to the Port of Ngqura for manganese exports,” he told delegates at the 11th International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) conference in Cape Town last week. “The route distance of this corridor is 1 000km and, on completion, it will have a capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum. We are now at construction phase.” The creation of a manganese corridor would benefit the South African economy considerably, said Monakali who indicated that the line development was an upgrade of existing lines. He said the country’s fourth planned heavy haul development – a regional link with Swaziland – was at present seeking funding for construction with all systems in place to start as soon as this was realised. According to Monakeli, this development covers a distance of 575km linking South Africa and Swaziland and providing an alternative route to the Ports of Richards Bay and Maputo for predominantly coal. “Our plan to link the Waterberg coal region in South Africa with those in Botswana unlocking the coal potential in both regions for export through the Port of Richards Bay continues. We foresee this heavy haul line having a capacity of between 40 and 100 million tons per annum covering a distance of 550km. It is, however, only at pre-feasibility studies at this stage.” South Africa’s heavy haul operations currently operate on 2 103km of railway moving iron ore and manganese. “We believe there is major scope to increase our heavy haul output and so industry can expect in exceess of 100% growth on our heavy haul tracks in the next few years,” highlighted Monakeli.

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We believe there is major scope to increase our heavy haul output. – Brian Monakeli