South Africa’s freight rail industry is getting back on track with the delivery of the first eight freight locomotives to a local freight rail service provider as part of its ZAR3.5 billion project to scale up capacity.

The full complement of 46 locomotives – worth a total investment of ZAR1.8 billion – will be delivered over two years.

Arriving from New Zealand through the Port of Durban, the Wabtec C28 locomotives will be transported to Traxtion Rail Services Hub in Pretoria, where they will be upgraded before they enter service.

Africa Business Communities reports that Traxtion is investing another ZAR1.6 billion to acquire 920 wagons.

‘Every investment of this nature creates a multiplier effect that extends beyond rail, supporting jobs, strengthening supply chains and enabling economic growth,’ said Traxtion CEO James Holley.

The investment comes as government is inviting private-sector investment in the rail freight network, which has not been operating at full capacity.

The South African government is aiming to increase annual freight rail volumes to approximately 250 million tons from the current level of around 160 million tons.

Reforms will see private freight rail operators  running trains using the state-owned rail infrastructure.

Traxtion’s rolling stock acquisitions are expected to add about 4.5 million tons of capacity to the national freight network.

25 August 2026
Image: Unsplash