Grindrod’s rail trial opens a new possibility for Matola. Mozambique’s gains will depend on corridor reliability and the value that freight leaves in the country.
A test train in South Africa could have consequences for the port of Maputo. The change lies in the prospect of a private operator carrying coal from Mpumalanga’s mines to its own terminal in Matola, using South Africa’s rail network under an open-access framework.
On 1 November 2026, Grindrod departed from Komatipoort with an empty train and returned the following day carrying 2,991 tonnes. According to the statement by Grindrod and infrastructure manager TRIM, this was the first private operator’s trial under the new framework. Commercial services remain planned for 2027.
What changed in South African rail
The reform began by separating infrastructure management from train operations. TRIM was established within the Transnet group in October 2024. Rail access agreements were signed with twelve operators in May 2026: eleven private companies and Transnet Freight Rail.
For Mpumalanga’s mines, this opens another rail transport option. For Grindrod, it brings train operations closer to the port business it already has in Mozambique. The company controlling the destination terminal can also organise part of the journey to it.
A limited start, a different operating model
Grindrod plans to carry 288,000 tonnes in its first year, using two allocated slots on the North-East Corridor. An increase to 432,000 tonnes would depend on additional slots. These are company projections, rather than operating results already achieved.
The main destination is the Matola Coal Terminal. The corridor runs from Mpumalanga to Komatipoort, crosses the border at Ressano Garcia and continues on CFM’s network to Matola, within the Maputo port system. The South African trial should be distinguished from the start of a regular commercial service into Mozambique.
Matola prepares for more capacity
The terminal expansion provides context for the rail project. The first phase, started in November 2025, represents US$40 million within a total programme of US$80 million. Grindrod expects to raise nominal capacity from 8 million to 12 million tonnes a year, with completion planned for the first half of 2027.
Nominal capacity, actual throughput and projected rail volumes measure different things. Matola’s expansion and private train operations could support each other, but both require a reliable railway, available slots and coordinated border operations.
What Mozambique could gain
Maputo already has the scale to compete for regional freight. MPDC reported total throughput of 32 million tonnes in 2025, including 11.7 million tonnes delivered by rail. Demand exists; the question is how to make the journey to the port reliable and competitive.
A recovery in South African rail could bring more freight through Ressano Garcia. It does not automatically mean that Maputo will win it from Durban or Richards Bay. The choice depends on total cost, transit times, security and service predictability.
For Mozambique, the assessment should go beyond tonnage. Transit revenues, employment, local services and contracts for Mozambican businesses matter. CFM needs negotiating capacity and coordination with private operators and MPDC. The border and terminal must function as parts of the same journey.
The timetable to watch
The trial of 1 and 2 November 2026 has taken place. Grindrod’s commercial launch and completion of Matola’s first expansion phase are planned milestones for 2027, subject to operational conditions and project delivery. The decisive test will be the move from a demonstration train to a service that customers can use regularly.
The link between South Africa’s interior and Maputo is longstanding. The current reform could strengthen it. Mozambique’s gains will depend on how the corridor is managed and whether freight passing through generates value that stays in the country.
Egidio G. Vaz Raposo writes in a personal capacity. Adapted for the blog from the November 2026 paper.