Cape Mainline reopens after damage caused by the violent storm.
Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has completed the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cape Mainline following severe storm damage and significant landslides in the Western Cape province.
“The reopening of Cape Mainline reinforces TRIM’s commitment to maintaining a safe, reliable, and resilient rail network and to responding decisively to infrastructure disruptions caused by extreme weather,” said TRIM Managing Director Moshe Motlohi in a statement released Friday.
Heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding on May 11 and 12 caused significant damage to rail infrastructure, including at five locations in the Worcester area and two subsidence areas in Leeu-Gamka in the Karoo region.
As a result, sections of the line were closed for more than two months.
TRIM stated that it quickly mobilized its internal teams and external partners to safely restore the railway and minimize disruption to rail operations.
The restoration work involved rebuilding the tracks washed away by the floods and the supporting infrastructure, replacing track structures and overhead equipment, and replacing masts damaged by the storms.
On July 31, 2026, the Cape Town main line reopened to diesel trains, and then, in August 2026, it was fully reopened to electric trains after the overhead lines were restored to service.
