Failure of rail forces focus to corridors

The importance of corridors should
not be under-estimated as they are key
drivers of economic growth, said MEC
for transport and public works in the
Western Cape, Robin Carlisle.
Addressing delegates at the March
Transport Forum at the Centre for
Supply Chain Management at the
University of Stellenbosch, Carlisle said
corridor development and maintenance
were placed high on his department’s
agenda as they brought about economic
growth.
“We cannot rely on rail in this
country – it is non-existent. We therefore
have to invest in our corridors as they
bring mobility and economic growth,”
he said. “We are continuously looking at
ways to improve our corridors and invest
large sums of money to ensure they are
functioning well.”
He said in one instance some
R200 million had been spent on one
corridor alone. “If rail was doing its
job we would have a different scenario,
but at present our corridors have to be
extraordinary as the economy relies on
them.”
He said one of the major corridors
in the Western Cape currently
receiving attention was the R44 linking
Stellenbosch and Somerset West. “We
have to sort out this section of road as
it is a key corridor for us and at present
the congestion is giving us nightmares.
The road itself is in a very good
condition, but it poses some challenges
that have to be addressed.”
He said the national corridors such
as the N1 and the N2 were always a
focus as they linked Cape Town with
the rest of the country. “These roads
are for the most part kept in a good
condition by Sanral and our focus is not
necessarily on road works. I do believe
it is important that we get rail up and
running to parallel these roads as we
cannot continue to move all our freight
on road – it is just too expensive.”
Carlisle said with good corridors in
place not only did one ensure mobility
of people and goods, but also major
investment, which ultimately results in
economic growth.