South African freight rail operator Transnet announced late on Thursday the resumption of partial service on the line to the country’s main coal export terminal. This follows a collision between two trains that blocked the tracks for four days. The first line to the Richards Bay coal terminal is now declared safe, with service on the second line expected to resume on Saturday. Despite the derailment, coal miners Thungela Resources and Exxaro Resources do not anticipate a significant impact on their fossil fuel exports. The collision added strain to mineral shipments already affected by locomotive shortages, cable theft, and infrastructure vandalism. Ongoing challenges with Transnet’s limited capacity have compelled some miners to reduce production, resorting to road transport, which is costlier and environmentally less favorable than rail. Transnet, also responsible for South Africa’s ports, previously imposed restrictions on trucks entering the Richards Bay port due to “unprecedented congestion” on the town’s roads.
Quest: Emmanuel kelvin