By Daniel Itai.
South Africa. (News of The South) – The South African government is embarking on a framework that will see most of its citizens making use of trains instead of cars in a bid that is meant to curb traffic congestion and carbon emissions by 2030.
The government is planning on introducing wider standard gauge tracks across most of the national rail network.
These will replace the narrow gauge tracks currently in use, and open freight and passenger rail services to competition and the possible privatisation of some rail services.
The South African government also wants municipalities to run their own local passenger train services. South Africa’s railway state enterprise entity Transnet, has over the years been battling to suffice public services due to an enlarged debt of over R100 billion (US$7 billion).
However, Transnet spokesperson Molatwane Likhethe said, “as a state owned company with a mandate of lowering the cost of doing business in South Africa, it is our responsibility to have debates and ideas on how we can influence economic growth using our capabilities.
“The major investment will, therefore, be the development of a minimalist standard gauge, high performance national rail network to maximise rail’s inherent competitiveness, and provide sufficient capacity for heavy haul and general freight services, as well as for regional rapid transit and long distance passenger services.”
Likhethe further noted that the introduction of standard gauge rail tracks was in line with the systems used by other countries, and will allow for the introduction of long distance passenger services with trains travelling in excess of 200km/h.
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