Cape to Cairo rail vision still a work in progress

There is as yet no coordinated effort to create a continuous rail system running from Cape Town to Cairo, which was first proposed in the late 19th century by Cecil John Rhodes. Regionally, there are largely disconnected rail projects under way. The 2012 Southern African Development Community (SADC) transport sector plan to 2027 lists 31 rail projects. It states, “the current situation for several of the regional railway systems is that the traffic volumes and income have fallen below that required for sustainable operations”. On its website, SADC states: “The deregulation of road transport caused an initial loss in traffic volume that has since rapidly expanded. “Unlike road transport, the operating costs of railways remain largely fixed; therefore, a decrease in traffic forced railways to operate at a loss, with any income diverted toward salaries and fuel costs instead of maintenance and upkeep. “Dwindling traffic and deteriorating infrastructure resulted in less investment into the rail system, resulting in unsustainable rail networks.” The most recent glimmer of hope for a continent-wide rail revival was an announcement at the 2024 Rail Conference and Exhibition by the African Royal Group of Companies that it was resurrecting the Cape to Cairo rail project. There has been no update since the announcement. South Africa’s hopes are pinned on the opening of 41 freight routes to private sector operators. Only once Transnet has finalised the access agreements will the operators be able to start raising finance for rolling stock and locomotives, according to Vivien Chaplin and Gaby Wesson of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. There may be an appetite to be involved in South African rail, providing certain guarantees are in place, they state. Funding has been raised for other projects in the region, with rail upgrades a focus in Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe. China is financing a $1.4 billion 30-year agreement with Zambia and Tanzania to upgrade the 1 860 km TAZARA rail line connecting Zambia’s Copperbelt mines to the port of Dar es Salaam. Neighbouring Zimbabwe is finalising a deal with China Railway International Group (CRIG), a $533 million project to revamp the country’s railway system, including the construction of a new Harare- Beitbridge railway line and the procurement of new wagons and locomotives. On the west coast, European countries and the United States are backing the development of the Lobito Corridor to secure access to essential minerals for electric vehicles and infrastructure. Namibia has secured funding for upgrades and the purchase of new rolling stock and locomotives. A joint feasibility study to connect Gaborone in Botswana to Walvis Bay by rail is under way. ER