Grindrod hauls 2,991 tonnes in first private test train on Transnet network

Grindrod moved 2,991 tonnes of freight on 2 November 2026 in the first private-operator test train on South Africa's state rail network, returning loaded to Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, after running empty the previous day.

The company used its own locomotives and wagons, which it presented as proof of readiness to begin services on the corridor without relying on Transnet traction. The run followed the signing of Rail Access Agreements with 12 third-party train operating companies, Grindrod among them, and the completion of the safety, regulatory and operational readiness processes Trim required before private operators could run on the network.

Commercial operations are planned to start in 2027, with Grindrod targeting approximately 288,000 tonnes of freight in the first year.

What does the test train change for the corridor?

Grindrod holds two allocated slots on the North-East Corridor. It will use them primarily to move coal from Mpumalanga to its Matola Terminal in Mozambique, tying rail haulage to its existing terminal infrastructure at the export gateway. Growth beyond the first-year target depends on corridor capacity, additional slot allocations and operational efficiencies — variables that sit with Trim rather than with the operator.

The North-East Corridor connects South Africa's mining and industrial heartland with regional markets and export gateways. Transnet's reform programme is intended to improve network utilisation, lift the freight volumes moving by rail and strengthen regional trade flows.

Moshe Motlohi, chief executive of Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (Trim), framed the run as the point where open access crossed from policy into practice.

“The successful completion of this test train is a landmark achievement for South Africa's rail reform programme. It demonstrates that open access is no longer a policy concept but an operational reality,” Motlohi said. “Through collaboration with private operators such as Grindrod, we are creating a more competitive and efficient rail network that supports economic growth and strengthens South Africa's logistics capability.”

What does Grindrod gain from running its own trains?

For Grindrod, the test demonstrates how rail operations can be integrated with the rest of its logistics chain rather than run as a standalone hauling business. Kwazi Mabaso, group chief executive officer of Grindrod Limited, said the combination of trains, terminals and corridor rights is the core of the value proposition.

“As an integrated logistics provider, the ability to combine rail operations with our terminal infrastructure and corridor footprint enables us to deliver greater efficiency, reliability and value to our customers,” Mabaso said. “We are proud to partner with Trim in demonstrating the practical benefits of rail reform and helping restore rail as the backbone of bulk freight transport.”

Measured result versus projection

The confirmed facts to date are narrow: one loaded test movement of 2,991 tonnes, 12 signed access agreements, and readiness sign-off from Trim. The 288,000-tonne first-year figure is a company target, not measured throughput, and it rests on two slots that have not yet carried revenue service.

Transnet's wider claims for the reform — unlocked investment, better network utilisation and a stronger South African position as a regional trade and logistics hub — remain projections until the 12 signatory operators run sustained commercial services.

What is beyond dispute is the sequence: agreements signed, readiness processes completed, a private train loaded and moved. The next checkpoint is the start of Grindrod's commercial coal services in 2027, when the 288,000-tonne target meets the corridor's actual capacity.