U.S.WORLD RECORD
Transnet sets record with 7.6 km empty train
Transnet's record train ran 696 wagons over 861 kilometers from Saldanha Bay to the Northern Cape, and every wagon was empty; the cargo section was brief.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Tonight at 6:47 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are RAILMARKET.com's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by RAILMARKET.com: “New world record 7.6 km long Transnet train”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 6:47 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- RAILMARKET.comNew world record 7.6 km long Transnet train
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTransnet Freight Rail says it ran a train seven point six kilometers long over the weekend, a world record, and joining us is Deputy Minister Ferdinand Achterberg.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMinister, it was six hundred ninety-six wagons. Were they carrying anything?
Ferdinand AchterbergNo. Cargo only slows a record down. I blew the whistle myself, and I'd like that noted.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo all six hundred ninety-six wagons were empty, and it ran eight hundred sixty-one kilometers from Saldanha Bay to the Northern Cape.
Ferdinand AchterbergOn time, nothing lost, nothing delivered. Name another ministry with that record.
Ferdinand AchterbergAs I always said in my first term, empty is efficient.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorDid you plan this?
Ferdinand AchterbergExtensively. Transnet helped a little, and the Railway Safety Regulator, but the vision was mine.
Ferdinand AchterbergAs I always said, back when I was at school, go long.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTransnet says it had two aims, the record and learning about train design and handling. It doesn't mention you.
Ferdinand AchterbergThat's modesty. The old record, three hundred seventy-five wagons, was a shameful little train, and I blame whoever ran it.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat was Transnet's record, on the same line.
Ferdinand AchterbergWhich is why I'm saying it was short. As I always said, since before the railway existed, a train should have ambition.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo you hauled nothing eight hundred sixty-one kilometers, and the nothing is yours.
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