The North Corridor’s main focus is the movement of coal to the Eskom power plants and export coal to the Richard’s Bay Coal Terminal and Transnet Multipurpose Terminal. The corridor provides a rail service to most coal mines in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal for export to the Richards Bay Port.

The most prominent line section is the heavy-haul export line between Ermelo-South and Richards Bay. It serves the Mpumalanga coalfields via a feeder network known as the Coal Backbone. The system also serves the Waterberg coalfields by means of the Waterberg line and the Gauteng Freight Ring. The dominant direction is from Lephalale towards Pyramid South with chrome, domestic coal, export coal, cement and ferrochrome being the top commodities. Chrome and ferrochrome originate between Phokeng and Pendoring and is mainly transported to Richards Bay for export.

Domestic coal is mined in Mpumalanga and Lephalale and transported to various destinations around the country. The corridor is focusing on asset efficiencies for coal flows as well as creating opportunities for the growth of other mining commodities.