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List of abandoned railway lines in South Africa

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This is a list of disused, abandoned, closed or dismantled railway lines in South Africa since 1910.

The list is primarily intended to document South African Railways (government) or private lines of historical significance (e.g. Okiep railway).

Closed lines

Route (from/to) Closure date

okay sucky

Notes
Bridgend–Cape Collieries 1912
Bamboo Junction–Bridgend 1917
Lyttelton Junction–Roberts Heights 1913
Sheba Halt–Sheba Mine 1926
Valley Junction–Walmer 1928 Narrow gauge. Walmer town branch of the Avontuur line. Replaced by bus service.
Monument–Sea Point 1929 This line ran from Cape Town City to Sea Point. Uplifted after closure.
Colesberg Junction–Colesberg 1931 Originally a terminus, this later became a spur off the Noupoort–Bloemfontein line.
Elandshoek – Mount Carmel 1931 Narrow gauge.
Hamilton–Tempe 1932
Point–Durban 1936 original 1860 route (oldest line in South Africa)
Stanger–Kearsney 1941 Narrow gauge. Kearsney–Stanger Light Railway
Okiep–Port Nolloth 1944? Narrow gauge. Namaqualand Railway
Knysna–Templeman 1949 Narrow gauge. South Western Railway Co. Ltd.
Opwekker–Tygerberg 1956 Milnerton Railway, opened 1904, last race train 1954. Heatherton–Milnerton–Ascot–Tygerberg(terminus) section uplifted shortly after closure.
Nancefield–Pimville 1974 (railway lines have been uplifted)
Wests–Cave Rock (whaling station) 197?
Sarnia–New Germany 1994+- line was uplifted in early 1990 due to umgani power station closure in 1988
Delville Wood–Shongweni Dam ? Service line for construction of dam.
Wartburg–Windy Hill ?
Touws River–Ladismith 1981 Closed due to line washaway caused by the 1981 flash flood.
Estcourt–Weenen 1983 Narrow gauge. Estcourt – Weenen
Molteno–Jamestown 1984 (railway lines have been uplifted)
Fort Beaufort–Seymour 1984
Komatipoort–Reserve ? Part of the Selati line through the Kruger National Park
Umlaas Road–Mid Illovo 1985 Narrow gauge.
Umzinto–Highflats 1985 Narrow gauge. Part of the Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway
Ixopo–Highflats 1985 Narrow gauge. Part of the Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway
Union Bridge–Madonela 1985 Narrow gauge. Part of the Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway
Ixopo–Donnybrook 1986 Narrow gauge. Part of the Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway
Port Shepstone–Harding 1986 Narrow gauge. Re-opened in 1988, see Alfred County Railway
Kelso–Umzinto 1987 Cape Gauge, closure after abandonment of the Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway
Gingindlovu–Eshowe North 1987 Closed after line washaway
Boughton–Hilton 1987 Part of old alignment of the Natal main line
Umlaas Road–Thornville 1988 Part of old alignment of the Natal main line
Bowkers Park–Tarkastad 1988 (railway lines have been uplifted)
Imvani–Qamata 1988 (railway lines have been uplifted)
De Doorns–Kleinstraat 1989 old Hex River Pass line. Replaced by Hex River Tunnel
Matroosberg–Kleinstraat 1989 Loop line for the old Hex River Pass. Replaced by Hex River Tunnel. (railway lines have been uplifted)
Groveput–Copperton 1991 Closure of mine.
Schoombee–Hofmeyr 1992
Grahamstown–Port Alfred 1993 Port Alfred Railway Line
Armoed–Calitzdorp 1993
Cookhouse–Somerset East 1993
Barkly Bridge–Alexandria 1993
Louterwater–Avontuur 1993 Narrow gauge. Section of the Avontuur line
Hercules–Magaliesburg 1996 Passed through Hartbeespoort
Pinetown–Cato Ridge 1997 part still open there is a weekend steam train run by umgeni steam railway between Inchanga and kloof currently only to bothas hill due to line damage
Modderpoort–Ladybrand 199?
Marseilles–Ficksburg Open
Volksrust–Bethal ?
Witpilaar–Vredenburg ? A spur off the Hopefield–Saldanha line. (railway lines have been uplifted)
Pieters–Harts Hill ? service line to quarry
Estantia–Klipstapel ?
Paarl–Franschhoek Open Privately operated by Franschhoek Wine Tram
Merrivale–Howick ?
Hilton–Cedara ? Part of old alignment of the Natal main line
Theunissen–Winburg 199? Branch opened 1898. Branch was originally planned to be extended to Senekal
Orkney–Vierfontein ? Uplifted after washaway. Re-laid, open December 2012
Springfontein–Koffiefontein 2001
Dover–Vredefort 2001
Wolvehoek–Heilbron 2001 Uplifted / stolen
Arlington–Heilbron 200?
Chelsea–New Brighton 2001 Narrow gauge. Private branch of the Avontuur line, to PPC cement factory. Caused by closure of all limestone mines along Avontuur line.
Aliwal North–Barkly East 2001
Sterkstroom–Maclear 2001
Rosmead–Stormberg 2001
Hutchinson–Calvinia 2001
Kootjieskolk–Sakrivier 2001 Branch line off the Hutchinson–Calvinia line.
Cor Delfos–Voortrekkerhoogte 2001
Nylstroom–Vaalwater 2002
Naboomspruit–Zebediela 2003
Pienaars River–Marble Hall 2003
Pentrich–Mkondeni 2004 Service line. Part of old alignment of the Natal main line.
Alfred County Railway 2004 Narrow gauge. Started 1988, Port Shepstone–Harding
Cor Delfos–Mooiplaas 2004? Service line to PPC Dolomite quarry at Erasmia near Pretoria, passed through Laudium
Sannaspos–Zastron 2006
George–Knysna 2006 Original Outeniqua Choo Tjoe route. Closed due to line washaway.
India Junction–Alberton 2007
Grootvlei–Redan ?
Alicedale–Grahamstown 2008 Port Alfred Railway Line
Thornville–Richmond 2008?
Assegaaibos–Louterwater 2009 Narrow gauge. Section of the Avontuur line
Gamtoos–Patensie 2009 Narrow gauge. Branch of the Avontuur line
Kaydale–Nigel 2010

Re-opened

Unsure status

References

  1. ^ Annual report. South African Railways and Harbours. 1969. p. 139.
  2. "The Two-foot Narrow gauge Forest Railroad in Knysna – South Africa".
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