Go ahead for Ngqura rail operation

TFR is on target for the completion of the rail terminal, marshalling yard and main line construction to the hinterland. There are presently four operational lines in the marshalling yard with the remaining five due to be available by March 2010.

The rail route links the new port to the City Deep rail terminal in South Africa’s Gauteng Province via Beaconsfield. Transnet has refurbished some 400 container wagons and will utilise its fleet of seven E-locomotives on the line, which has a designed capacity of six trains per day (50-wagon trains). The marshalling yard can accommodate up to six trains per day in each direction.

Transnet has invested in excess of R10bn (US$13.4m) to develop the state-of-the-art 2m teu capacity Port of Ngqura, which represents the solution to South Africa’s long-time lack of container capacity. The port’s advantage is its deep-water with a depth of between 16 and 18 metres, which can accommodate the new generation mega-container vessels.