Ndebele spells out rail-focused strategy

Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele says the government is committed to improving the country’s freight and passenger rail networks in order to reduce road accidents, decrease the country’s carbon footprint, and ensure that people and goods will keep moving once fossil fuels have run out. But, he added, rail will not completely replace road. Speaking in Durban at the launch of the 2010 October Transport Month (OTM) last week, Ndebele, said “rail is also a key part of our plans to move both our freight and passengers from road to rail. The strategy to move to rail does not mean that we are working towards a county without any roads or cars on our roads.” “The strategy is about ensuring that the most appropriate form of vehicles sits on the right mode.” For South Africa and Africa to grow and take their rightful places in global trade and movement, it is important that rail transport remains effective and efficient, he said. “It has to play a much bigger role in a global competitive environment to provide our companies and people with a competitive advantage in the global markets. “We are developing rail as part of a rail renaissance that is taking place globally,” he added. Planned rail investment over the next 20 years would “create certainty and will enable input manufacturers to re-tool their factories and therefore create sustained local industrial activities”. As a first step to introducing high speed, rail, a pilot Durban- Johannesburg fast rail system will be tested within the next six months. “The Durban to Gauteng corridor is the busiest corridor in the southern hemisphere both in terms of value and tonnage. It also forms the backbone of South Africa’s freight transportation network. “It is also vital in facilitating economic growth for the country, the region and the continent,” he said. The “2050 Vision” for the Durban- Gauteng corridor aimed to streamline freight logistics, lower logistics costs, improve efficiencies, and provide capacity ahead of demand, he said.