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Glencoe-Dundee-Vryheid Main LineThis is an important arterial main line, connecting the
Richards Bay coal line with the Durban-Gauteng
main line
(Natcor). Prior to the opening of the coal line, it was
the principal route for coal traffic from northern
KwaZulu-Natal to the coast, but it currently forms an
essential
link for imported specialised coal moving inland from
Richards Bay.
The existence of coal in the Dundee area led to the 11 km
section from Glencoe to Talana being opened in 1896. This
was extended in 1903 to Vryheid and, in 1913 northwards to
Commondale (the present border with Mpumalanga),
where it met the southward extension from Piet Retief,
thus forming a through route to Ermelo and Machadodorp.
With the opening of the Richards Bay coal line, the
Glencoe-Vryheid section lost some of its
importance, particularly after closure of the coal mines
in the Hlobane area. At that time over 13 million gross
tons of traffic (estimated to be about 8 million net tons)
was still routed over the line. Export coal traffic
dropped dramatically during the 1990s but grew with
the
increased importation of over 800,000 tons of coking coal
from Australia to the steelworks at Newcastle. Export
steel also utilises this route.
The section has a maximum allowable wagon axle-load of 20
tons, the standard mainline specification. It is single
track with a 1 in 50 ruling gradient, and is electrified.
Train control is by radio, and there are several passing
loops on the route which can accommodate over 20 trains a
day in each direction. At present, only three or four
trains operate in each direction per day.
A colliery still operates in the area, feeding rail
traffic at Talana. All other traffic is in transit
from one line to another. For Details of
Volumes and Commodities Received
and Forwarded [Table 4]CLICK HERE
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