WORCESTER – The Cape Mainline railway has been fully restored following severe storm damage that disrupted operations for more than two months earlier this year.

Transnet announced the completion of recovery and reconstruction work on the critical rail route, which was damaged by heavy rainfall, strong winds and flooding on 11 and 12 May.

The storms caused extensive damage at seven locations across the Western Cape and Karoo regions. Five sites were affected in the Worcester area, while two major washaways occurred at Leeu-Gamka in the Karoo.

Recovery teams worked to rebuild washed-away track formations and supporting infrastructure, reinstate track structures and overhead equipment, and replace storm-damaged mast poles.

TRIM chief executive Moshe Motlohi said internal teams and external stakeholders were rapidly mobilised to restore the railway safely and reduce disruption to operations.

The Cape Mainline reopened to diesel-hauled trains on 31 July, marking a significant milestone in the recovery effort. Full operations resumed in August when electric trains returned to the line following commissioning of the reinstated overhead track equipment.

“The reopening of the Cape Mainline reinforces TRIM’s commitment to maintaining a safe, reliable and resilient rail network and responding decisively to infrastructure disruptions caused by extreme weather,” Motlohi said.

He added that the successful recovery demonstrated the resilience, technical expertise and commitment of the teams involved, supported by collaboration across Transnet and with external stakeholders.

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