Rail Freight

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa provides reliable, secure, and cost-efficient rail freight transport across Southern Africa’s key trade routes. Our dedicated rail cargo services link mines, farms, factories, and warehouses directly to major ports such as Durban and Richards Bay, improving efficiency and reducing road congestion. With more than 100 train freight movements each month — including our privately operated agri-reefer service — we deliver faster turnaround, lower costs, and seamless integration between inland operations and port logistics.

Looking for dependable, compliant rail freight logistics that optimise your supply chain? Speak to our experts today for a tailored quote.

Key Benefits

What is Rail Freight?

Rail freight refers to the transportation of goods by train over dedicated rail networks, offering a reliable, secure, and cost-effective alternative to long-haul road transport. It plays a vital role in moving large volumes of bulk, containerised, or specialised cargo efficiently across inland and cross-border routes.

For South African industries, rail freight is central to regional trade — linking mining, agricultural, and manufacturing hubs directly to ports such as Durban and Richards Bay. With growing investment in private rail operations and intermodal infrastructure, C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa provides flexible rail cargo services that reduce congestion, improve turnaround times, and ensure sustainable, compliant cargo movement across the region.

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa’s Rail Freight Services

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa provides fully integrated rail freight solutions that combine private rail operations, strategic partnerships, and multimodal expertise. Our rail cargo services connect key industrial, agricultural, and mining regions across Southern Africa with major ports like Durban and Richards Bay, ensuring faster, safer, and more cost-effective inland logistics.

Compliance, Accreditations & Certifications

All C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa’s rail freight operations comply with strict international compliance standards, ensuring every shipment meets safety, trade, and customs regulations across Southern Africa’s rail networks. We maintain long-standing partnerships with Transnet Freight Rail and regional operators to guarantee safe, reliable, and fully compliant cargo movement across borders.

Our globally recognised credentials and certifications reflect our commitment to transparency, operational excellence, and sustainable logistics. Every rail cargo service is managed under rigorous quality and safety systems, giving our clients confidence that their goods are transported according to the highest international benchmarks.

Credentials and Certifications:

Dedicated Rail Corridors

We operate exclusive and ring-fenced train freight services between Johannesburg, Durban, and Ndola (Zambia), providing reliable, scheduled cargo movement across borders. This corridor supports a high volume of both bulk and containerised freight, improving turnaround times and ensuring consistent delivery for importers and exporters throughout Southern Africa.

Exclusive Agri Reefer Train Service

Our agri reefer train is a privately operated, temperature-controlled rail service to Durban, designed specifically for perishable and export-bound agricultural cargo. Each train includes 48 refrigerated wagons railed directly into port stacks, eliminating congestion, reducing handling time, and preserving product quality from origin to terminal.

Bulk and Containerised Cargo

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa handles a wide range of cargo types, including bulk minerals, metals, fertilisers, chemicals, timber, and manufactured goods. Our rail cargo services are designed to move large volumes safely and efficiently, integrating with our warehousing, customs clearance, and sea freight operations for true end-to-end logistics coverage.

Back-of-Port Rail Solutions

Our back-of-port facility in Durban features direct rail access, allowing up to 2,500 tons of cargo per train to move seamlessly between vessels and inland destinations such as Gauteng. This reduces reliance on road transport, shortens dwell times, and improves coordination between port, warehouse, and inland terminals.

Bonded Warehousing and Trade Finance Support

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa complements its rail freight operations with extensive warehousing, bonded storage, and trade finance services, ensuring clients have full control over cargo flow and cash cycles. 

Our port-adjacent and inland facilities provide secure, bonded storage for both import and export cargo, including steel, fertiliser, and agricultural commodities.

Through the wider C. Steinweg Group, we also offer collateral management and trade finance support, allowing goods in storage to be used as security for financial transactions. 

This integration between rail, storage, and finance enables importers, exporters, and traders to optimise working capital, manage risk, and maintain continuous cargo movement from origin to market.

Integrated African Rail Freight Network

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa operates across an extensive regional rail network spanning South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique. Our network connects major trade and industrial corridors across Southern and Eastern Africa — linking ports, production zones, and inland hubs to deliver efficient, compliant, and coordinated cross-border rail transport.

Our active rail routes include:

Through close coordination with Transnet Freight Rail and other regional operators, we ensure reliable rail cargo movement supporting mining, steel, agricultural, manufacturing, and other supply chains across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Customs and Documentation Expertise

At C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa, we manage all rail cargo documentation and cross-border customs requirements with precision and efficiency. Our in-house clearance specialists prepare and process waybills, cargo manifests, permits, and certificates for both import and export shipments.

Through direct integration with South African Revenue Service (SARS) and regional customs systems, we expedite inspections and authorisations to prevent border delays. Every rail freight movement is fully documented and compliant with national and SADC trade regulations, ensuring secure, traceable, and uninterrupted cargo flow between ports, warehouses, and inland destinations.

End-to-End Logistics

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa integrates rail freight transport into a complete, door-to-door logistics solution. Whether importing cargo through South Africa’s major ports or exporting to neighbouring countries, our multimodal network ensures smooth transitions between sea, rail, and road.

From container offloading and customs clearance to inland rail delivery or return to port, every stage is managed under one system for full visibility and control. This integrated approach reduces delays, cuts costs, and provides clients with a single point of accountability — ensuring efficient, compliant, and traceable cargo movement from origin to final destination.

Industry Expertise

With decades of operational experience across Southern Africa’s logistics corridors, C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa provides specialised rail freight solutions designed to meet the needs of diverse industries. Our rail cargo services support the efficient movement of countless commodities, including metals, minerals, steel products, fertilisers, chemicals, timber, agricultural goods, and manufactured items, all managed under strict safety and compliance standards.

Each shipment is coordinated by dedicated controllers trained in both bulk and containerised rail operations, ensuring safe loading, accurate documentation, and timely delivery. By combining technical handling expertise with deep sector knowledge, we help our clients streamline inland logistics, reduce transit costs, and maintain supply chain reliability — from warehouse, mine, or farm gate to port and beyond.

Related Services: How Rail Freight Logistics Fit Into Your Supply Chain

Rail freight logistics form a critical link in C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa’s end-to-end transport network. By integrating rail with road, sea, and warehousing operations, we ensure cargo moves efficiently between inland origins, manufacturing sites, and export ports.

Whether it’s moving imported cargo from port to distribution centres or exporting raw materials to global markets, our rail cargo services provide a reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective connection across every stage of your supply chain, reducing transit times and improving overall logistics performance.

Why Partner with C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa?

With over 30 years of operational expertise, C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa stands among Southern Africa’s most trusted rail freight companies, combining global reach with locally managed precision. Our clients rely on us for dependable rail freight logistics that move complex cargo safely, efficiently, and compliantly across key regional trade corridors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does rail freight work?

Rail freight moves cargo using dedicated trains that transport goods across inland and cross-border routes on scheduled services. At C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa, we coordinate every stage, from loading and documentation to tracking and delivery, ensuring cargo moves efficiently between mines, warehouses, and ports under strict safety and compliance standards.

How long does rail freight take?

Transit times depend on distance, border crossings, and rail scheduling. We work closely with Transnet Freight Rail and regional operators to optimise routing and minimise delays, ensuring each shipment arrives safely and on schedule.

What types of cargo can be moved by rail?

Our rail cargo services handle a wide variety of commodities, including bulk minerals, metals, steel products, fertilisers, chemicals, timber, agricultural produce, and manufactured goods. Both containerised and break-bulk freight can be transported efficiently by rail.

How much does rail freight cost?

Rail freight costs depend on cargo type, weight, distance, and whether the service is domestic or cross-border. To receive a detailed estimate tailored to your route and cargo, please request a personalised quote from our team.

What documentation is required for rail freight shipments?

Documentation typically includes a waybill, cargo manifest, commercial invoice, and any permits or certificates required for specific goods. Our in-house customs and clearance specialists manage all paperwork to ensure compliance with South African and regional trade regulations.