Transport Dept aims to move 600m rail passengers by 2030

The Department of Transport has set an ambitious target to move 600 million rail passengers by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to revitalise South Africa’s rail and freight logistics systems through private sector partnerships.

The department said it hopes to restore efficiency, reliability and competitiveness in the transport of both passengers and goods.

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While government would maintain public ownership of core infrastructure, the move would open the door for private investment to improve efficiency.

A memorandum of agreement between the Department of Transport, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and National Treasury has already been signed.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy: "The PSP Unit is in the process of being capacitated and will be ready to commence with the conceptualisation of third windows and the development of requests for proposal."

She said the first phase had already attracted 162 responses, including responses from 12 countries outside South Africa.

"Interested and affected parties will be prompted to register their details before accessing the RFI analysis report on freight transport. Inputs and comments for the freight analysis results, which, as I've explained, are also on the website, can be provided within 30 days. The passenger rail RFI will remain open for a period of eight weeks."