Kei Rail
Encyclopedia
Kei Rail is a railway project in South Africa
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The Eastern Cape
government restored rail services between AmaBhele and Mthatha
, on an abandoned branch from the East London-Springfontein
main line. Infrastructure was rebuilt, and passenger services restarted in March 2008. The local Department of Roads and Transport leases the network from Transnet Freight Rail, and Sheltam Grindrod are subcontracted to operate trains.
The project was part of a broader development plan for the region. The line has also been used by the Phelophepha hospital train. ECDORT planned several other projects to restore disused infrastructure in the province. However, funding is threatened and the service is not connected with the rest of the South African rail network; Kei Rail suspended services in November 2010 but resumed in June 2011.
20 coaches were reposessed by Transnet Rail Engineering, and sold to an Angolan railway operator in September 2011.
Rail transport in South Africa
Rail transport in South Africa is the most important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa's railway system is the most highly developed in Africa...
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The Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
government restored rail services between AmaBhele and Mthatha
Mthatha
Mthatha is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town has an airport, previously known by the name K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima....
, on an abandoned branch from the East London-Springfontein
Springfontein
Springfontein is a small mixed farming town in the Free State province of South Africa.The town was established in 1904 on the farm Hartleydale, which was part of the farm Springfontein. The name Springfontein, which is Afrikaans for "jumping spring", stems from the existence of a spring on the...
main line. Infrastructure was rebuilt, and passenger services restarted in March 2008. The local Department of Roads and Transport leases the network from Transnet Freight Rail, and Sheltam Grindrod are subcontracted to operate trains.
The project was part of a broader development plan for the region. The line has also been used by the Phelophepha hospital train. ECDORT planned several other projects to restore disused infrastructure in the province. However, funding is threatened and the service is not connected with the rest of the South African rail network; Kei Rail suspended services in November 2010 but resumed in June 2011.
20 coaches were reposessed by Transnet Rail Engineering, and sold to an Angolan railway operator in September 2011.