Transnet plans Waterberg rail link

6 October 2011

Logistic group Transnet has said it is hoping to expand a South African rail link so that it can carry up to 80 million tonnes of coal a year, reports Reuters.

The plans have been laid out to meet potential demand, as it is expected that the Waterberg area, in South Africa's Limpopo province, will become the country's next coal hub.

Connecting with an existing line at Ermelo in Witbank, the expansion could be completed as soon as April 2012 and would cost around R37 billion (£2.9 billion). The current line in the area has a capacity of around four million tonnes a year.

Siyabonga Gama, chief executive of Transnet Freight Rail, told Reuters that the line would be expanded in phases.

"For all intents and purposes that project is going ahead. The idea is that the Waterberg line will be a heavy-haul line," he added.

Recently, Japan announced that it would be investing $24.2 million (£14.8 million) in the improvement of transport infrastructure between Tanzania and Rwanda.

Category: Transport