Derailed iron train in Australia’s Pilbara region

Johannesburg, South Africa --- MININGREVIEW.COM --- 29 July 2010 - South Africa's logistics group Transnet has announced that it has re-opened the iron ore railway line shut down last week after a train derailed.

The rail line is used mainly by Kumba Iron Ore, a unit of global miner Anglo American Plc and the world's 10th-largest iron ore producer.

A spokesman for Transnet's freight arm, Sandile Simelani, said repairs had been completed. “The line has been opened, but damages and losses that have been suffered are still a subject of investigation,” he added.

Simelane went on to say that there were no injuries or fatalities. Of the 342 wagons, 107 had derailed, as well as two locomotives which had been seriously damaged. There had also been extensive damage to the overhead track equipment, rail track, bridge and rolling stock.

“Almost all the iron ore that spilled in the dry river bed below the bridge on which the train partially derailed has been removed,” Simelane explained.

He said that although the iron ore was a non-toxic metal, officials from the department of environmental affairs were working together with Transnet Freight Rail officials on a rehabilitation programme for the site.