SALDANHA – Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has set a new world record for freight rail operations after successfully operating an empty train comprising 696 wagons on the Iron Ore Export Line from Saldanha to the Northern Cape on Sunday, 18 October.

The train reached Loop 18 on the Sishen–Saldanha railway line at the 741 km mark near Witpan in the Northern Cape, completing the journey of the longest train ever assembled and operated on the corridor.

According to TFR, the achievement goes beyond setting a world record, demonstrating South Africa’s engineering expertise and ability to conduct large-scale heavy-haul rail operations safely.

The initiative was led by TFR’s Train Design Technology and Operations teams, in collaboration with Transnet Engineering, the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and the Railway Safety Regulator. The train comprised 696 empty CR13/14 wagons hauled by a combination of Class 15E electric and Class 43D diesel-electric locomotives.

The locomotives were arranged using Radio Distributed Power (RDP) technology, which allows them to operate as a synchronised unit.

This distributes traction and braking forces across the train’s entire length, improving stability and safety.

According to Russell Baatjies, chief executive of TFR, the successful operation of this train demonstrates the depth of engineering expertise, operational excellence and innovation within TFR.

“While setting a world record is a significant achievement, the real value lies in the technical knowledge and operational insights gained through this exercise. These learnings will contribute to the continued advancement of rail operations, support innovation and strengthen our freight rail capability into the future.”

Extensive planning, modelling and simulations were conducted before the journey to ensure safe operations.

Specialist personnel accompanied the train to monitor its performance, while locomotive data collected during the run will be analysed to improve future rail operations.

The achievement reinforces the Iron Ore Export Line’s position as one of the world’s leading heavy-haul rail corridors.

It also highlights South Africa’s ability to conduct rail operations on a scale achieved by only a select number of railway operators globally, supporting TFR’s efforts to increase capacity, improve operational performance and strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s logistics network.

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