Komatipoort:Johannesburg Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd, and Grindrod Limited have achieved a significant milestone in rail reform with the successful completion of Grindrod's first test train on the North-East Corridor.
According to South African Government News Agency, the operation began in Komatipoort on November 1 with an empty leg and returned on November 2 carrying 2,991 metric tons. This marks Grindrod as the first private Train Operating Company (TOC) to function on South Africa's national freight rail network under the open-access framework.
The milestone follows the signing of Rail Access Agreements with 12 Train Operating Companies, including Grindrod, marking the culmination of extensive safety, regulatory, and operational readiness processes needed to enable third-party operations on the network.
TRIM Chief Executive Moshe Motlohi stated that the successful completion of this test train is a landmark achievement for South Africa's rail reform programme, demonstrating that open access is now an operational reality. By collaborating with private operators like Grindrod, they aim to create a more competitive and efficient rail network that supports economic growth and strengthens South Africa's logistics capability.
The operation utilized Grindrod-owned locomotives and wagons, showing the company's readiness to commence services on the corridor. Grindrod plans to begin commercial operations in 2027, transporting around 288,000 tonnes in its first year. Using its two allocated slots on the North-East Corridor, the company will primarily transport coal from Mpumalanga to Grindrod's Matola Terminal in Mozambique.
Grindrod Limited Group Chief Executive Officer Kwazi Mabaso emphasized the milestone's importance for both the company and the transformation of South Africa's freight logistics sector. Mabaso noted that combining rail operations with their terminal infrastructure and corridor footprint enables them to deliver greater efficiency, reliability, and value to customers. Partnering with TRIM, they aim to demonstrate the practical benefits of rail reform and help restore rail as the backbone of bulk freight transport.
TRIM, as the custodian of South Africa’s rail infrastructure, is responsible for managing, maintaining, and developing the national network and facilitating access by Train Operating Companies under the open-access framework. The successful test train highlights the progress made through collaborative efforts of government, Transnet, and private sector participants to modernize South Africa's rail network.