About Sikame Siding
Some history and background information
Background
Sikame Siding, the largest privately owned siding in Vryheid, Kwa-Zulu Natal, is owned and operated by Nguni Mining (Pty) Ltd. The siding has been used as a coal load out facility by several operators for over 60 years. Sikame Siding no 651206 with Railway Safety Regulator Permit No: CSP 0901 N.
Description
Sikame Siding is situated on portion 44 of the Farm 388 Nooitgedacht, district Vryheid, and measures approximately 122 hectares.
Click on image to navigate to Sikame Siding entrance using Google Maps
The siding has 390m feeder track, coupling to Transnet Freight Rail’s service turnout. This feeder track is owned and maintained by Nguni Mining (Pty) Ltd. From the feeder track, the loading area is 1,2km single rail in length. The rail is also maintained by Nguni Mining (Pty) Ltd.
Siding Statistics
| Siding Area | 122 ha |
| Distance from Port | 202 km |
|
Distance from Vryheid East Train Placing Yard
Sikame Siding is part of the main TFR rail line to Richardsbay |
1.5 km |
| Train Turnaround Time | 1 Day |
|
Stockpile Space
Can stockpile 100 000 tons of product next to rail |
1 000 000 tons |
|
Access roads
80-ton in weighbridge 60-ton out weighbridge |
1 |
|
Number of train loads per day
Can load 104 Jumbo wagons at a time |
2 |
|
Loading time
+/- 4 Hours for 104 Jumbo wagons |
4 hours |
| Running time to and from Vryheid Transnet yard | 90 minutes |
| Night Train Placement | ✓ |
|
Wagon Stack Yard
350 wagons +/- 29 000 tons can be stacked outside Sikame Siding |
✓ |
| 24-hour Operation | ✓ |
|
Load Jumbo wagons?
84 tons per wagon |
✓ |
| Privately owned | ✓ |
Wagon Capacity
With our latest upgrades, our loading wagon capacity has increased to 104 jumbo wagons at a time.
Operations
A Private Siding Agreement is in place with Transnet Freight Rail. Only Transnet Freight Rail will be allowed access to the siding, to place and remove wagons as per the Private Siding Agreement. The siding also has two weighbridges for road freight. Incoming product is weighed upon the entering of trucks, then stockpiled next to the rail for loading. Loading of wagons is done with FEL’s that are equipped with certified calibrated weight meters, for correct train releases. 24-hour Armed security with CCTV camera’s on site.
Advantages of using Sikame Siding
As the siding is situated on a 122-hectare property only 10km from Vryheid and 2km via rail to Transnet Vryheid East.
Due to the siding’s geographic location, where KZN and Mpumalanga’s rail lines coincide, there is direct access to Richards Bay’s mainline and Durban.
The siding is large enough to store up to 1 million ton of product. The area allows for on-site screening and blending operation.
The fact that both MPT 60-ton wagons, small 60-ton jumbo wagons and RBCT 84-ton jumbo wagons can be accommodated, gives the siding more flexibility compared to other sidings in the area.
Our turnaround time of placing trains for loading runs swiftly, because of the Transnet Vryheid East shunting yard being only 2km away from the siding, which handles and allocates wagons to all sidings in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The required infrastructure is regularly maintained, in place and operational. We work according to TFR and RSR regulations.