Transportation solutions

RAIL

Grindrod Rail is known for ensuring a seamless rail logistics solution for our freight customers. We contribute to their enhanced results through coordinating logistics, managing railway operations and providing cost efficient rolling stock leasing solutions.

Find out about our logistics network

Managing railways

We offer individual models for different markets, but all based on providing the services that our clients and partners want; – from whole concession management by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway Company in Zimbabwe to the operation of heavy haul trains in Sierra Leone. Infrastructure management, rolling stock procurement, rolling stock maintenance, train consist optimisation, training, safety management and train control systems are all core competencies.

Explore our trade corridors

ROLLING STOCK LEASING
AND FINANCE

We offer innovative and cost-effective leasing solutions to the rail and mining sectors in Africa. Our highly competitive debt funding and modern fleet of purpose-built locomotives and wagons allow our clients to free up cash flow and balance sheet capacity for their core businesses.

RAIL CONSULTANCY services

Rail freight broking

Grindrod Rail Consultancy Services (GRCS) has a dedicated team of brokers with decades of combined experience in the haulage of both mine inputs and mine exports into and out of the Congolese and Zambian Copperbelt.

We simplify things with one price, one invoice and one point of contact for the complete rail logistics movement of cargo. Our expertise is broad, covering copper (metal and concentrates), cobalt concentrates, chrome ore, coal, limestone, clinker, sulphur powder, sulphuric acid, mining chemicals, diesel and petrol, fertiliser, construction materials and general containers.

Rail consultancy

Mines rely on our experienced rail managers and engineers to provide a unique combination of independent advice and consultancy on a wide range of logistics solutions, particularly where a combination of road, rail, port handling and seafreight services is required.

Rolling stock advice and maintenance

Solid experience in the design, manufacture, maintenance, sourcing and financing of specific fit-for-purpose rolling stock across the Cape gauge network puts GRCS in a league of its own. Our innovatively designed, lightweight flatbed container wagon is a solution for many freight requirements in southern Africa where axle weight limits restrict payloads.

Road

As part of providing an end-to-end service for our customers, we provide road haulage from point of origin to final destination. With our own fleet of trucks as well as carefully selected independent transporters, we ensure that cargo is delivered across trade corridors in southern Africa. Whether it be standard-sized shipments or out-of gauge, containerised, bulk, temperature-controlled, dangerous or high-value cargo we are able to provide the appropriate cargo transport and trailer. We handle full loads shipments, part loads shipments and groupage shipments of any frequency.

Explore our intermodal services

SEAFREIGHT

We provide a coastal shipping service calling on major ports in South Africa and Namibia. The seafreight operation is supported by Grindrod’s multi-purpose terminals in Durban catering for containerised, break-bulk and bulk cargoes, including warehousing and distribution. Our three-vessel network provides a feeder service to international carriers, shipping regional and domestic cargo for Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Lüderitz, and Walvis Bay.

Through Röhlig-Grindrod's global network, we deliver cargo in compliance with local and international laws and regulations, navigating through the complexities of global sea transportation. We handle standard shipments - containerised, bulk and break-bulk - out-of-gauge freight and hazardous cargo.

Air

When time is of the essence, our responsive air freight division is the answer. Through strong strategic partnerships with reputable airlines, Röhlig-Grindrod secures preferential rates and delivers reliable, cost-effective, flexible solutions. Customers can choose from premium, classic or economy to suit their specific air freight needs. Whether airport-to-airport, door-to-door or any multi-modal combination, we deliver worldwide no matter the size, type and frequency of the cargo. Thanks to our extensive global network, our customers’ suppliers are always within close range of our offices, minimising extensive transit times.

Explore our clearing and forwarding services