Business

MBABANE – Eswatini Railways is positioning itself for a major leap in freight transportation after successfully testing an 84-wagon loaded magnetite train.

This is a move expected to significantly boost cargo volumes, operational efficiency and regional trade connectivity. The successful trial marks one of the most important operational milestones for the railway operator in recent years as the organisation intensifies efforts to modernise freight movement and maximise the use of existing rail infrastructure.

The test run, conducted on September 9, 2025, involved an 84-wagon loaded magnetite train operated by Transnet Freight Rail travelling from Phalaborwa to Richards Bay through Eswatini before returning successfully.

The primary objective of the exercise was to determine whether the current rail infrastructure within Eswatini could accommodate longer and heavier freight trains without compromising operational safety and efficiency. Results from the trial were largely positive, with nearly all crossing loops and stations along the Eswatini mainline proving capable of handling the extended train configuration.

Only Lavumisa Station was found to be shorter than the required length. However, railway planners concluded that operational train crossings could still be effectively managed across the network despite the limitation.

The development is expected to strengthen Eswatini’s strategic role as a regional freight corridor linking mining activities in South Africa to major export ports. The transition from 80 to 84-wagon trains may appear modest on the surface, but railway officials say the impact on cargo throughput will be substantial.

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Eswatini Railways CEO Nixon Dlamini. (R) Eswatini Railways has reached a significant operational milestone — a successful test run of an 84-wagon loaded magnetite train, marking a pivotal step towards increased efficiency and enhanced cargo throughput. (Courtesy pics)