‘Integration crucial for regional rail efficiency’

If southern Africa wants to maximise rail transport efficiencies, there needs to be strong knowledge sharing, exchange of ideas and integration of services, according to directorgeneral of the department of transport George Mahlalela. According to Mahlalela, the role of rail in the region has been downplayed for far too long, not allowing companies to compete globally due to the inaccessibility and inefficiency of rail networks. “It is true that the colonial role has been a root cause in many African regions for the establishment of the so-called Cape gauge which is today not helpful in our economic endeavours. About 17 African states have about 449 614kms of the Cape gauge network with South Africa owning approximately 20 324km of this network.” He said while this has stood in the way of the integration of the railway system in Africa, it was time to consider how to move to standard gauge. He said serious work was necessary to estimate the cost of putting in new networks on this gauge.