State-owned Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has issued sidings lease requests for proposals (RFPs), covering nine rail siding facilities across the Eastern and Central Regions, marking another milestone in its open market programme aimed at unlocking value from South Africa’s rail infrastructure and expanding access to strategic siding facilities.

This follows the issuance of the previous batch of sidings lease RFPs, which included three siding facilities in the Eastern and Central Regions.

Transnet, in a media release, says this aligns with the National Rail Policy (2022) and the Freight Logistics Roadmap (2023), reinforcing TRIM’s mandate to commercialise rail assets in a responsible, transparent and sustainable manner, while upholding the highest standards of safety, compliance and network integrity.

Proposals are expected to include comprehensive infrastructure upgrades to enhance operational efficiency and enable seamless road-to-rail integration.

These may include rail-line refurbishment; loading and handling facilities; drainage systems; lighting and security enhancements; and fencing and access roads.

Successful bidders will be awarded leases for a minimum period of ten years, with clear performance and investment commitments tied to the lease term.

Transnet adds that operators will be required to demonstrate measurable improvements in turnaround times and overall logistics efficiency.

The commercial framework is based on market-related rental structures, designed to ensure fair value while preserving the long-term sustainability of the assets.

Bidders will engage through a transparent, market-based process to access TRIM’s rail sidings under a regulated framework.

This multi-stage process includes prequalification, functional evaluation and final price/preference assessment.

Safety, health and regulatory compliance is a non-negotiable requirement, says Transnet.

“This batch underscores TRIM’s ongoing commitment to transparent, market-based access to critical rail assets. By enabling private sector participation in siding operations, we are advancing a more efficient, competitive and integrated freight logistics system for South Africa,” says TRIM CE Moshe Motlohi.

The bid submission deadline is May 28.