This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 8/5/2019

Eswatini Railway and Transnet have agreed to develop a 146 kilometer railway line between Lothair in Mpumalanga, South Africa through Sidvokodvo in Eswatini as well as upgrading adjacent networks in both countries. This line will then connect with the present line in Eswatini which goes to Richards Bay in South Africa. The E16 billion to E17 billion (USD 1.6 billion to USD 1.7 billion) railway line would attempt to relieve pressure on the coal corridor to Richards Bay in South Africa. The rail link is to transport freight from road to rail between the two countries.  A feasibility study, which started in March 2014 and includes addressing land acquisition and relocation of affected stakeholders; environmental impact assessments; and the design of the line and construction cost estimates; is ongoing.

Eswatini Railway in October 2014 celebrated its 50th birthday and unveiled its own locomotives and wagons. The Eswatini Railway locomotives were jointly supplied by an Illinois-based National Railway Equipment Company (NREC) and a South African locomotive builder and railway equipment supplier RRL Grindrod. Eswatini in all its fifty years existence has been hiring its rolling stock from its neighbors, firstly from Mozambican national rail operator and then from South Africa.

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Railroad signaling equipment

  • Locomotives and wagons

  • Railroad maintenance equipment

  • Railway track construction materials

  • Switch machines (rail equipment)

  • Business model analysis

  • Automatic fare collection systems

  • Rolling stock depot design

  • Strategic route design and network planning

Opportunities
The construction of the new rail link will bring opportunities for U.S. companies in the supply of new railroad construction materials, locomotives, wagons, etc. The construction of the rail link will further open up opportunities for strategic route designers and network planners.

Financiers will also get opportunities to finance this E16 billion to E17 billion (USD 1.6 billion to USD 1.7 billion) railway line.
Eswatini Railway will build 96km inside Eswatini.

Web Resources
Eswatini Railway: http://www.swazirail.co.sz
Ministry of Public Works and Transport: http://www.gov.sz/

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