In South Africa, because of the long distances involved, rail freight is an extremely important means of moving goods from our inland cities to our ports. Not only is the rail network important within the country, but rail is also a crucial means of moving goods between countries in Southern Africa and beyond. The main railway operator is Spoornet, which is owned and run by Transnet (which, in turn, is a government organisation).
To learn more about Spoornet, visit their website, by clicking here.
You may also want to learn more about the documentation associated with rail freight by clicking here.
Additional links
- Rail Online – Spoornet’s online rail portal for freight customers (registration is required)
- Standard Conditions of Carriage – Make sure you know what is expected of you
- Energy surcharge – If you are transporting goods by rail and get billed by Spoornet, you may see this additional charge on your bill
- National Ports Authority – A sister organisation of Spoornet and a division of Transnet
- SA Port Operations – Another sister organisation of Spoornet and also a division of Transnet
- Spoornet specialised goods divisions – These include automotive, containers, lime and cement, coal, grain, agriculture, fuel, chemicals, fertilizer, chrome and manganese, granite and the consolidated sector