Private partners to be sought for R16bn Swazilink rail project

Southern African railways utilities Transnet and Swaziland Railways have agreed to package the 146-km ‘Swazilink’ greenfield line between Lothair, in South Africa, and Sidvokodvo, in Swaziland, as a public-private partnership (PPP) and may release an international tender for a 20- to 25-year concession by October. The route for the R12-billion to R16-billion project has already been determined following a detailed feasibility study and the two State-owned companies are currently in the process of acquiring land on both sides of the border, while upgrading associated infrastructure.