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{{Short description|Railway line in South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 30em
| name = Ore Export Line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| image_width =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| type = [[Iron ore]] [[freight rail|freight]]
| system =
| status =
| locale = [[Western Cape|Western]] & [[Northern Cape]], [[South Africa]]
| start = [[Sishen]], [[Northern Cape]]
| end = [[Saldanha, Western Cape]]
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1976
| close =
| owner = [[Transnet Freight Rail]]
| operator = [[Transnet Freight Rail]]
| character =
| depot = Salkor Yard
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|861|km|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber =
| electrification = [[50 kV AC]] [[overhead catenary]]
| speed = {{cvt|80|km/h|mph}}
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Sishen-Saldanha route diagram}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Sishen–Saldanha railway line''', also known as the '''Ore Export Line (OREX)''', is an {{convert|861|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} heavy-haul railway line in South Africa.<ref name="rg">{{Cite news |first=Rollo |last=Dickson |title=Orex upgrade targets more capacity |work=Railway Gazette International |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/orex-upgrade-targets-more-capacity.html |date=3 June 2007}}</ref> It connects [[iron ore]] mines near [[Sishen mine|Sishen]] in the [[Northern Cape]] with the port at [[Saldanha Bay]] in the [[Western Cape]].<ref name="rg" /> It is used primarily to transport iron ore (60 million tonnes per year)<ref name="IRJ">{{Cite news |first=Keith|last=Barrow |title=Transnet invests in heavy-haul capacity|work=International Railway Journal Magazine |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/freight/transnet-invests-in-heavy-haul-capacity.html |date= 2012-01-25}}</ref> and does not carry passenger traffic.

[[File:Sishen–Saldanha railway line.ogv|thumb|left|A video of the end part of the 342-wagon 3,780-metre long Sishen–Saldanha iron-ore train on its way to Saldanha in the Western Cape, South Africa]]
The Sishen–Saldanha line was built by [[Iscor Limited|Iscor]], the then iron and steel [[parastatal]], opening in 1976.<ref name="boon">{{cite book |first=Boon |last=Boonzaaier |title=Tracks Across the Veld |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-620-41711-2}}</ref>

In 1977 the line was transferred to [[Transnet Freight Rail]], then known as ''South African Railways & Harbours'', and was electrified.<ref name="boon" /> A voltage of [[50 kV AC]] was chosen instead of the usual 25 kV to haul heavier loads and allow greater distance between transformers.

A single-track line with 10 crossing loops to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass was constructed. The number of crossing loops has increased to 19 to increase line capacity.<ref name="rg" />

From an altitude of {{convert|1295|m|ft}} at Sishen, the line climbs for {{convert|42|km|mi}} before descending to cross the [[Orange River]] about {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} downstream of [[Groblershoop]].<ref name="rg" /> For the next {{convert|300|km|mi|-1}}, the line rises and falls before descending towards the [[Atlantic]] coast.<ref name="rg" /> The railway crosses the [[Olifants River (Western Cape)|Olifants River]] on a {{convert|1035|m|ft}} viaduct between [[Vredendal]] and [[Lutzville]]<ref name="boon" /> and reaches the coast about {{convert|160|km|mi|-1}} north of Saldanha.<ref name="rg" /> From there the line follows a coastal route.

[[File:Catenary_masts_with_very_long_50kV_insulators_of_Sishen-Saldanha_line.jpg|thumb|right|Note the very long 50 kV insulators on the catenary masts]]

[[File:The_Transnet_locomotive_for_the_Sishen-Saldanha_line.jpg|thumb|right|Example of a locomotive]]

[[File:Inside_the_cab_of_a_locomotive.jpg|thumb|right|Inside the cab of a locomotive]]

Initial train lengths consisted of three [[South African Class 9E, Series 1|class 9E]] electric locomotives, hauling 210 type CR [[ore wagon]]s with a payload of 80 tonnes.<ref name="boon" /> Upgraded wagons now carry 100 tonnes.<ref name="rg" /> Train lengths were increased in 2007 to 342 wagons, employing [[Distributed power|Radio Distributed Power]] (RDP) technology. These trains (initially with 10 locomotives, a mix of electric and diesel-electric) and 342 wagons have a total mass of 41,400 tonnes and are {{convert|3780|m|ft}} long, the longest production trains in the world. The same 342-wagon trains are now powered by just five [[South African Class 15E|15Es]], crewed by one driver and one assistant.<ref name="IRJ" />

The train length was increased in October 2019 to 375 wagons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Transnet sets new world record with 4 km-long manganese train |date=12 October 2018 |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2021838/transnet-sets-new-world-record-with-4km-long-manganese-train/}}</ref>

{{wide image|Sishen-Saldanha Iron Ore Train.jpg|1800px|alt=An aerial view of an ore train on the Sishen–Saldanha line.|An aerial view of an ore train on the Sishen–Saldanha line}}

== See also ==
* [[South African Class 9E, Series 1]]
* [[South African Class 9E, Series 2]]
* [[South African Class 15E]]
* [[South African Class 34-000]]
* [[South African Class 34-400]]
* [[South African Class 34-500]]
* [[South African Class 34-900]]
* [[South African Class 43-000]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line}}
[[Category:Railway lines in South Africa]]
[[Category:Iron ore railways]]
[[Category:Mining railways]]
[[Category:Mining in South Africa]]
[[Category:3 ft 6 in gauge railways in South Africa]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

Sishen–Saldanha railway line - Revision history

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