Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has launched a tender inviting proposals to lease and operate three secondary railway lines in eastern and central South Africa.
The tender forms part of broader reforms to open the national rail network to private operators, aiming to attract investment, modernize infrastructure, and restore freight flows critical to sectors such as mining and container transport.
Bidders are required to submit plans for rehabilitating railway lines and associated facilities, including loading infrastructure, drainage systems, lighting, security, fencing, and access roads. Proposals will be evaluated through a multi-phase process, including prequalification, functional assessment, and final consideration based on price and preference criteria. Lease payments will be based on market value, with safeguards to maintain asset value.
TRIM, which separated from Transnet Freight Rail in 2024, emphasised the need for projects that reduce downtime and shift cargo efficiently from road to rail. Authorities aim to raise national rail freight volumes to 250 million tons per year by 2030, compared to 152 million tons transported in the 2023/24 fiscal year, down from 226 million tons in 2017/18 due to infrastructure deterioration.
The deadline for submitting bids is Thursday, April 30, with a non-mandatory virtual briefing session scheduled for Friday, March 13, for potential bidders.
