The key facts
- Transnet announced the testing of a 7.6 km train with 696 wagons on 18 October
- The route was 860 km from Saldanha Bay to an iron ore deposit, with the wagons running empty
- The previous 2001 record was a 4.5-mile train in Western Australia
Testing the record-breaking train
South Africa's state transport company Transnet announced that it has tested the world's longest freight train: it measured 7.6 km in length and consisted of 696 wagons. This was reported by euronews. On 18 October, the train travelled 860 kilometres from Saldanha Bay on the country's west coast to an inland iron ore deposit; during the test run, the wagons were empty.
How the train was moved and what is known about the previous record
The traction power to move such a long train was provided by electric and diesel locomotives positioned along its length. According to Transnet, the new result surpasses the previous record set in 2001, when a 4.5-mile freight train ran from an iron ore deposit to a port in Western Australia. The company presented the run as a milestone for South Africa's rail freight network, but the record claim itself comes from Transnet — no independent confirmation is provided in the publication.
