Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and its recovery teams have managed to clear 97 wagons off the Northern Corridor following the derailment of a train carrying coal to Richards Bay port last Tuesday.
TFR said in a statement that despite the heavy rain over the weekend and the “very complex recovery processes” its internal staff and industry teams had cleared all 97 derailed wagons from the derailment site by 08:15 on Monday. The train was derailed in Nhlazatshe, near Ulundi.
“This is almost 24 hours sooner than was initially anticipated when the recovery and clean-up work resumed in earnest on Friday evening. This major feat was only possible because of the collaborative efforts of a broad range of stakeholders, including Transnet’s customers and supply chain partners that provided the specialised heavy-duty equipment,” TFR said.
The Department of Transport, the Department of Public Enterprises and the provincial governments of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng granted emergency approvals for the transportation of the abnormal equipment, while police and traffic police supported its movement to the site.
The North Corridor is a key transport node for the movement of heavy-haul coal, chrome, and other commodities to the Port of Richards Bay.
“TFR will be able to determine the extent of the damage and when normal train operations can commence once the derailment site has been completely cleared of the spilt coal and debris. The force majeure remains in place as the rail line is still closed,” TFR said.
The rail utility announced on Friday that it had implemented force majeure on the Northern Corridor after the “violent extortion efforts” of the Ulundi Business Forum had “significantly disrupted and delayed” the work of its recovery team at the scene of the derailment.
