Geordin Hill-Lewis: Cape Town cannot wait years for rail control

Cape Town’s long-suffering train commuters could face more years of uncertainty as the National Department of Transport’s draft National Rail Master Plan confirmed rail devolution in principle, but without timelines.

Hill-Lewis welcomed the policy shift, which opens the door for metros like Cape Town to take control of urban rail. But he warned that without urgency, commuters may continue to endure unreliable services.

“We’ve asked for clear timelines. This can’t be another situation where we wait four or five years,” Hill-Lewis said.

For thousands of daily rail users in Cape Town, delays, safety concerns and limited service remain part of everyday life, issues now central to the political debate ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

No deadlines for rail takeover

The draft plan confirms the government’s intention to devolve rail functions to “capable metros”, aligning with a 2022 Cabinet decision. However, no firm deadlines have been set.

Hill-Lewis said this is the first time the policy has been clearly outlined in writing, after repeated delays in releasing the document.

“All we’ve had until now was a Cabinet minute. Now we at least have confirmation, but no urgency,” he said.

Funding key to fixing Cape Town rail

The City of Cape Town has made it clear that any takeover must include funding currently allocated to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

Public transport systems globally are heavily subsidised, and Cape Town’s rail network is no different. The city estimates that around R1.8 billion per year would be needed to follow the function if control is transferred.

“We would need that operational subsidy to get the system up and running and then improve it over time,” Hill-Lewis said.

For commuters, the stakes are high. A functioning rail system could dramatically cut travel times and costs, issues likely to influence voting decisions in the next municipal election.

Rail central to Cape Town’s future

Despite challenges, the city insists rail must become the backbone of public transport.

In a growing metro of more than five million people, rail is seen as the only viable way to move large numbers of commuters efficiently.

“If you want a successful megacity, you have to have a functional, excellent rail system,” Hill-Lewis said.

While bus rapid transit services like MyCiTi will remain part of the network, the long-term strategy places rail at the centre.

Political pressure ahead of elections

The lack of progress on rail reform is likely to feature prominently in local government election campaigns.

For voters, especially working-class commuters, reliable transport is not just a policy issue but a daily reality affecting jobs, income and quality of life.

With no clear timeline for rail devolution, pressure is mounting on the national government to move faster.