‘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.