UPDATE ON ESWATINI RAIL LINK (ESRL) PROJECT

The Eswatini Rail Link project team has spearheaded the project to reach significant milestones on its growth path. This is a joint effort between Transnet Freight Rail and Eswatini Railways. The project is currently at Project Affected People relocations. Many alternative sites have been prepared for the construction phase which should start early 2023.

This inter-railway initiative between Transnet Freight Rail (South Africa) and Eswatini Railways entails the construction of a 146 km new railway line/link from Lothair, South Africa to Sidvokodvo, Eswatini and the revamping of adjacent existing lines to align and provide support to the new link.

The project is intended to be a rail and road traffic congestion solution based on a realistic and achievable system capacity. The target is to accommodate trains of up to 26 tons/axle, 2.5km long/200 wagons trains and a capacity of 12 trains each way per day, in line with infrastructure interventions, thereby creating a dedicated General Freight Business Corridor for Transnet, while providing necessary additional capacity for Eswatini Railways. This growth in capacity adds to the current capacity of 12 trains of 81 wagons per day each way on the current ESR Komatipoort-Golela Line that will double the traffic volumes. Consequently, the Eswatini Rail Link project will enable added capacity on general freight business.

The Image below shows the Eswatini Railways System Map with added
details of the new Eswatini Rail Link Project.

Recent developments include the following:

• The signing of dossiers by project affected people.
• Acquisition of land in South Africa and Swaziland is in progress.
• Clearing of land for imminent resettlements.
• Ongoing procurement process for building contractors.
• A structure at grass roots level comprising of affected people is in place
  to address all resettlement issues. A participatory process to relocate
  homes is ongoing.
• A robust consultative process with traditional authorities and other
  stakeholders like the Manzini Regional Administrator, Chiefs and
  Government ministries is ongoing.
• Complete adherence to regulatory and statutory requirements lies at
  the core of the entire project.
• The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini is in full support of the project as evidenced by the availing of resources for the relocation process.

Opportunities:

This project has already created opportunities on both sides of the boarder.
Emaswati companies have participated at business level in undertaking some
of the work and general Emaswati have benefitted in direct short term
employment.

• Will create jobs in line with the stage of the project.
• Will create business opportunities, facilitate skills transfer and training.
• Will unlock mining opportunities.
• Will give rise to Corporate Social Investment initiatives
• Boost the Eswatini economy.
• Regional integration

Construction:

Construction will start once the relocation process is complete, the process to
source a financier of the project is underway.

For more information contact:

Sandile Dlamini (Acting Project Director): +268 7802 2286
Senanile Mayabane (Project Manager): +268 76185359