Grindrod makes history with first private train on Transnet railway

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HomeIndustry InsightsGrindrod makes history with first private train on Transnet railway Industry Insights Grindrod makes history with first private train on Transnet railway By Skhumbuzo Masiko 10 minutes ago 0 11 Share FacebookXPinterestWhatsApp Grindrod’s private test train carried 2,991 tonnes of freight on Transnet’s railway network, equivalent to approximately 88 truckloads at a 34-tonne payload. South Africa has reached an important milestone in freight transport after Grindrod successfully operated the first private test train on Transnet’s national railway network under the new open-access arrangements.

The operation, which took place on the North-East Corridor between Komatipoort in Mpumalanga and Grindrod’s logistics facilities in Mozambique, marks a significant step towards opening the country’s freight rail network to private operators.

The train departed Komatipoort empty on 1 November 2026 and returned on 2 November carrying 2,991 tonnes of freight, using Grindrod’s own locomotives and wagons.

To put that figure into perspective, moving the same amount of cargo by road would require approximately 88 fully loaded trucks, assuming an average payload of 34 tonnes per truck.

Actual truck payloads vary depending on the vehicle configuration, cargo and applicable mass limits, but the comparison illustrates the enormous volumes that a single freight train can move.

It also highlights the potential for rail and road transport to complement each other. While trains can handle large volumes of bulk cargo over long distances, trucks remain essential for collecting freight from mines, delivering cargo to terminals and moving goods to destinations without direct railway access.

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Grindrod plans to transport approximately 288,000 tonnes of freight during its first year of commercial operations, expected to begin in 2027.

At an illustrative 34 tonnes per truck, that annual rail volume would be equivalent to approximately 8,400 truckloads.

The company’s planned operations will focus mainly on coal movements from Mpumalanga to its Matola Terminal in Mozambique for export, using two allocated weekly train slots on the North-East Corridor.

The test follows the conclusion of Rail Access Agreements between Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and 11 private Train Operating Companies allocated capacity on the national network.

Together with Transnet Freight Rail, the programme envisages 12 operators using the network across five strategic corridors.

The introduction of private train operators is intended to attract investment, increase railway capacity and move more freight onto rail.

The programme is expected to introduce an additional 24 million tonnes of annual freight capacity initially, with potential growth to 52 million tonnes over five years.

For South Africa’s road freight industry, this development should not simply be viewed as competition between trucks and trains.

A more efficient railway could take pressure off long-distance bulk freight movements while creating opportunities for trucking companies involved in first-mile collections, terminal operations and final deliveries.

Grindrod’s test train has demonstrated that private operators can now move beyond agreements and preparations to actual operations on Transnet’s network.

The bigger test will be whether these services can become reliable commercial operations and help strengthen South Africa’s wider freight logistics system.