South Africa Sets Record With Massive 7.6-Kilometer Freight Train Test
Transnet successfully tested a 7.6-kilometer-long freight train in South Africa, marking a new record for the longest train ever operated.
POLICY WIRE — Cape Town, South Africa — State-owned logistics operator Transnet has announced the successful completion of a test run for what it identifies as the longest freight train in history. The massive transport measured 7.6 kilometers, or approximately 4.7 miles, in total length.
According to official data from the company, the train was comprised of 696 individual freight wagons. To maintain momentum across the 860-kilometer route from Saldanha Bay to an inland iron ore mine, the train utilized a strategic configuration of both diesel and electric locomotives.
The two-day journey, which concluded on October 18, involved moving the empty wagons across the country. Russell Baatjies, the chief executive of Transnet Freight Rail, stated that the operation served as a critical learning exercise intended to bolster South Africa’s capacity for moving minerals and bulk goods over vast distances.
This achievement surpasses the previous record held by a 7.24-kilometer, or 4.5-mile, train that operated in Western Australia in 2001. While standard freight trains typically range between half a mile and 1.5 miles in length, South Africa and Australia remain global leaders in the deployment of ultra-long-haul rail transport.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
