City of Cape Town adopts Rail Business Plan to push for control of passenger rail

Cape Town City Council has officially adopted the Rail Business Plan.

Central to the vision is the devolution of passenger rail from national to city government.

Council further adopted the Cape Town Long-Term Plan, which sets out the City’s overall strategic goals until 2050, including that 75% of passenger trips are made with public transport.

"We are getting ready and preparing, which is why we've done so much detailed work on this feasibility study, and now this detailed business plan," says City Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Adopting the plan means the City can now formally approach national government, he says.

"We've done so informally, of course, we've been having these discussions for a long time... we've done the preparatory work, we can go no further with this before we get some kind of formal engagement... that we're going down this path together."

The plan sets out three detailed models, all them including some level of private sector involvement in the operation of the passenger rail network in Cape Town.

"What's really important to note is that funding must follow function," says Hill-Lewis.

There is currently a R2 billion subsidy per year to Metrorail in Cape Town from the state, he explains, adding that it is crucial that continues.

The City also wants authority over fare-setting, access to long-term national grant-funding, and to generate local revenue through public-private partnerships and commercialisation.

"Capetonians urgently need an expanded, affordable, and reliable rail service that is integrated with other forms of transport via one ticketing system. The Rail Business Plan will now inform our engagements with national government to devolve passenger rail to the City."

To listen to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis in conversation with CapeTalk's John Maytham, click the audio below: