Sishen–Saldanha railway line

{{Short description|Railway line in South Africa}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox rail line

| box_width = 30em

| name = Ore Export Line

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| type = Iron ore freight

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| locale = Western & Northern Cape, South Africa

| start = Sishen, Northern Cape

| end = Saldanha, Western Cape

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| open = 1976

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| owner = Transnet Freight Rail

| operator = Transnet Freight Rail

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| depot = Salkor Yard

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| linelength = {{convert|861|km|abbr=on}}

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| tracks = 1

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

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| electrification = 50 kV AC overhead catenary

| speed = {{cvt|80|km/h|mph}}

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| map = {{Sishen-Saldanha route diagram}}

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The Sishen–Saldanha railway line, also known as the Ore Export Line (OREX), is an {{convert|861|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} heavy-haul railway line in South Africa.{{Cite news |first=Rollo |last=Dickson |title=Orex upgrade targets more capacity |work=Railway Gazette International |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/orex-upgrade-targets-more-capacity.html |date=3 June 2007}} It connects iron ore mines near Sishen in the Northern Cape with the port at Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It is used primarily to transport iron ore (60 million tonnes per year){{Cite news |first=Keith|last=Barrow |title=Transnet invests in heavy-haul capacity|work=International Railway Journal Magazine |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/freight/transnet-invests-in-heavy-haul-capacity.html |date= 2012-01-25}} and does not carry passenger traffic.

File:Sishen–Saldanha railway line.ogv

The Sishen–Saldanha line was built by Iscor, the then iron and steel parastatal, opening in 1976.{{cite book |first=Boon |last=Boonzaaier |title=Tracks Across the Veld |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-620-41711-2}}

In 1977 the line was transferred to Transnet Freight Rail, then known as South African Railways & Harbours, and was electrified. A voltage of 50 kV AC was chosen instead of the usual 25 kV to haul heavier loads and allow greater distance between transformers.

A single-track line with 10 crossing loops to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass was constructed. The number of crossing loops has increased to 19 to increase line capacity.

From an altitude of {{convert|1295|m|ft}} at Sishen, the line climbs for {{convert|42|km|mi}} before descending to cross the Orange River about {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} downstream of Groblershoop. For the next {{convert|300|km|mi|-1}}, the line rises and falls before descending towards the Atlantic coast. The railway crosses the Olifants River on a {{convert|1035|m|ft}} viaduct between Vredendal and Lutzville and reaches the coast about {{convert|160|km|mi|-1}} north of Saldanha. From there the line follows a coastal route.

File:Catenary_masts_with_very_long_50kV_insulators_of_Sishen-Saldanha_line.jpg

File:The_Transnet_locomotive_for_the_Sishen-Saldanha_line.jpg

File:Inside_the_cab_of_a_locomotive.jpg

Initial train lengths consisted of three class 9E electric locomotives, hauling 210 type CR ore wagons with a payload of 80 tonnes. Upgraded wagons now carry 100 tonnes. Train lengths were increased in 2007 to 342 wagons, employing Radio Distributed Power (RDP) technology. These trains (initially with 10 locomotives, a mix of electric and diesel-electric) and 342 wagons have a total mass of 41,400 tonnes and are {{convert|3780|m|ft}} long, the longest production trains in the world. The same 342-wagon trains are now powered by just five 15Es, crewed by one driver and one assistant.

The train length was increased in October 2019 to 375 wagons.{{cite web |title=Transnet sets new world record with 4 km-long manganese train |date=12 October 2018 |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2021838/transnet-sets-new-world-record-with-4km-long-manganese-train/}}

{{wide image|Sishen-Saldanha Iron Ore Train.jpg|1800px|alt=An aerial view of an ore train on the Sishen–Saldanha line.|An aerial view of an ore train on the Sishen–Saldanha line}}