About R2.2 billion will be invested in restorative maintenance on South Africa’s iron ore railway corridor this year, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said during an inspection of work underway on October 12.
The spending is part of the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) R8.9 billion Ore Line Restoration Programme, running to 2030, intending to restore reliability and improve capacity.
Government has allocated R3.4 billion through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure over the current and next financial year, Creecy said. Of this year’s R2.2 billion maintenance investment, R1.5 billion will come from that allocation.
The 861 km railway carries iron ore from Sishen in the Northern Cape to the Port of Saldanha in the Western Cape for export.
Its annual maintenance shutdown began on October 6 and is scheduled to end on October 16. The shutdown provides a window for work that cannot be undertaken while trains are operating, according to TRIM.
Teams are replacing rails and sleepers, screening ballast, renewing turnouts and repairing the track foundation. Drainage, electrical and signalling work is also part of the programme.
The interventions intend to improve safety and operational reliability and help accommodate future freight demand, TRIM said.
Separately, R1.47 billion is being invested in maintaining the line’s rolling stock, comprising R752.3 million for wagons and R721.9 million for locomotives, according to Creecy. The work will address maintenance backlogs and support improved fleet availability.
The railway work coincides with maintenance at the Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal where a separate shutdown is due to end on October 21.
As previously reported by Freight News, the terminal programme includes repairs to rail tipplers and maintenance of ship loaders and the stacker reclaimer.
