Name of the Project
Eswatini Rail Link.

Location
The rail line will run between Lothair, in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and Sidvokodvo, in Eswatini.

Project Owner/s
The project is a joint inter-railway strategic initiative between Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Eswatini Railways (ESR).

Project Description
The project aims to create a dedicated general freight business (GFB) corridor for Transnet while providing much-needed additional capacity for ESR.

The project includes the construction of 150 km railway line between Mpumalanga, in South Africa, and Sidvokodvo, in Eswatini, and revamping two existing lines – Ermelo to Lothair, in South Africa; and Sidvokodvo, in Eswatini, to Richards Bay, in South Africa.

The rail link will also release capacity on the coal export corridor.

According to a press release by ESR in January 2017, the 150 km rail line will require the engineering and construction of about 222 structures. 

This includes 28 viaducts, 28 overbridges, 31 underpasses, 25 cattle creeps and 110 culverts, the majority of which will be located in Eswatini. 

The initial feasibility study concluded in 2015 indicated that the project would require 1 218 ha – 506 ha in South Africa and 713 ha in Eswatini – and would result in the disruption of about 500 households and 600 grave sites.

By relieving the coal export corridor of almost all its general freight, TFR will align the rail network with the coal-handling capacity at Richards Bay to facilitate an increase in exports, initially from South Africa’s Mpumalanga coal mines, but progressively from the Waterberg, in Limpopo, and eventually also from neighbouring Botswana.

Potential Job Creation
It is expected that about 3 400 construction-related jobs will be created in South Africa and 2 700 in Eswatini.

Long-term employment arising from train operations and maintenance extends to an estimated 500 jobs in South Africa and 300 in Eswatini.

The project is also expected to help develop the skills of the people working on the project and in surrounding communities.

Capital Expenditure
The cost of the project has been estimated at R20-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
One of the major ongoing activities for the project is acquiring the land needed for the new rail link to be built, the project developers have noted.

On the Eswatini side, progress achieved includes the acquisition of seven of the eight land parcels on title deed land and the relocation of about 506 graves on Eswatini Nation Land.

The planning for the resettlement of the 235 project-affected households is at an advanced stage, with several activities ongoing or due to begin.

Assets to be compensated have been agreed and signed for by at least 90% of project affected persons (PAPs).

Replacement or alternate resettlement sites have been secured for about 40% of these persons and draft plans for replacement houses have been prepared for consultation with them.

Plans for the provision of basic infrastructure, including water, roads and electricity, for resettled people are at an advanced stage, with talks initiated and ongoing with utility companies.

A list of draft or proposed corporate social investment projects has been prepared for consultation with affected communities.

Resettlement task teams have been established to facilitate meaningful consultation with the project affected person and a smooth resettlement process.

Lines or channels of communication have been established with community leadership, regional administrators, government and other key stakeholders, with regular consultations being held.

On the South African side, progress achieved includes the exhumation and relocation of 100 graves and the completion of a socioeconomic assessment study of existing skills in Mpumalanga. The buying of about 506 ha required for project purposes and plans to resettle affected households are both at an advanced stage.not read well

The two railway operators are working on a financing model for the project and, according to the developers, many potential funders have shown an appetite to fund the project. 

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
TFR spokesperson Mike Asefovitz, tel +27 11 544 9585.
Eswathini Rail Link corporate communications manager Sive Manana, tel +268 2411 7400
Sive.Manana@swazirail.co.sz