Transnet to shut down coal line for maintenance

Friday, April 15, 2011

Pretoria - Transnet Freight Rail's coal line will be shut down for a 20-day period so that planned maintenance can take place.

"The line will be shut from 23 May to 11 June 2011 as part of its planned maintenance," Transnet spokesperson Sandile Simelane said on Friday.

The 580-kilometre coal line, which starts in Mpumalanga and runs through KwaZulu-Natal to Richards Bay, is fully electrified with two 100-wagon trains, with one 200-wagon train at Ermelo.

In January, an incident was reported when wagons derailed between Intshamanzi and Enqolothi near Ermelo. The derailment resulted in 90 export coal trains being cancelled. No injuries were reported at the time. 

Transnet Freight Rail is the largest division of Transnet. - BuaNews