SOUTH Africa's Transnet Freight Rail (TRF) is reportedly engaged in negotiations with the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and Beitbridge Bulawayo Railways (BBR) to create a consortium of four African railway organisations to form a unified railway system on the north-south corridor linking South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo that will be based in Bulawayo.

Media reports from South Africa say apart from the two Zimbabwean railway companies, TRF will work with Zambian Railways and the DRC's Societe Nationale des Chemins Fer du Congo to create a joint operating centre based in Bulawayo. The project aims to ensure integrated resource planning would take place to achieve operational efficiency in the region.

NRZ public relations officer Fanuel Masikati declined to comment when contacted for confirmation, referring the Zimbabwe Independent to the Southern African Railway Association (Sara).

Sara said they were not aware of the development.