HIGH-SPEED TRAINS PLANNED FOR SOUTH AFRICA

As part of its new national rail policy, South Africa will be getting a brand-new high-speed rail system.

This was announced by Transport minister Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing.

He said the framework will serve as the basis for the establishment of new high-speed rail corridors across the country.

“The framework will determine the strategic objectives for high-speed rail in the country and determine the criteria to be used in determining and prioritizing these corridors. Feasibility studies on proposed high-speed services will be conducted by the department (of transport) guided by the framework.”

A feasibility study was conducted last year to determine if it will be feasible to introduce a high-speed rail development between Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria.

According to Mbalula, the planned development will carry passengers as well as freight.

Business Tech reports that in May 2020, transport director-general Alec Moemi said that a framework for a new High-Speed Rail (HSR) network in South Africa has already been developed and implemented. He added that the project will not be solely funded by the government but will be financed through investor funding as well as private sector participation.

Last month, at a job fair in Johannesburg, China’s ambassador to South Africa, Chen Xiaodong, said his country is very interested in providing finance for various transport projects in South Africa.

“We will also continue to connect with South Africa on major projects such as the Joburg-Durban high-speed rail,” he said.

Image credit: Global Construction Review