Green paper on rail transport due out soon

The Department of
Transport expects to have
a green paper on rail
transport available by no
later than the end of the
year, according to deputy
minister Jeremy Cronin.
Speaking at the annual
Railways and Harbour
Conference and Exhibition
in Johannesburg last week,
Cronin said his department
was hard at work on the
first phase of the new Rail
Transport Policy.
He said the DoT
was developing the
“overarching governance
strategy” as part of the
government’s plan to
rebuild the country’s
railways.
“It will take at least
another year following
the delivery of the green
paper to move into a
comprehensive strategy.
Policy development is,
however, crucial if we want
to move forward.”
He said this could even
result in a Rail Act if
deemed necessary.
According to Cronin
much effort was going
into strategy and policy to
deal with the significant
challenges of the country’s
dilapidated rail system.
Cronin, who gave the
opening address at the
conference, told delegates
that there was a definite
need for a Rail Economic
Regulator, something the
green paper would also
address. “It is necessary
to ensure our operators
on the system don’t end
up playing the role of
regulator as well.”
He said the DoT hoped
to have the policy approved
by no later than the end of
2012 as the time for talking
was long over. “Action is
needed and it is needed
now.”