South Africa has officially reclaimed the world record for operating the longest freight train, bringing the title back home for the first time since setting it in 1989.
South Africa (20 October 2026) – South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has just set a brand-new world record for the longest freight train ever operated.
Over the weekend of 17 to 18 October 2026, a mind-boggling 696-wagon train stretching an unbelievable 7.6 kilometres made its way across the country. In doing so, it reclaimed the world record.
The massive train made the epic 861-kilometre journey all the way from Saldanha, just north of Cape Town, to the Sishen Iron Ore Mine in Kathu in the Northern Cape.
This isn’t the first time Mzansi has worn this crown. In 1989, Transnet set the world record on the exact same Sishen-Saldanha line. Australia’s BHP Iron Ore took the title in 2001 with a 7.35km train of 682 wagons, but 25 years later, the record is officially back home where it belongs!
Transnet says the feat was a highly sophisticated engineering and operational exercise
The freight operator used wireless technology, placing various electric and diesel engines throughout the train, rather than just at the front. Linked together electronically, all these engines worked as a synced team, spreading out the power and braking force so the massive train could glide smoothly and safely across the country.
“Every aspect, from train simulations and route readiness to locomotive positioning, train handling strategies and real-time performance monitoring, was meticulously engineered to safely move almost 700 wagons across 861km.” said the freight operator.
The world record-setting train is a culmination of teamwork between TFR’s train design specialists, operations crews, Transnet Engineering, the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager, and the Railway Safety Regulator.
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