South Africa opens passenger rail sector to private investment amid modernisation drive

THE Department of Transport has opened the door to large-scale private sector participation in South Africa's rail network currently operated by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), inviting investors to help modernise key infrastructure, introduce smart ticketing systems, and roll out fibre optic connectivity along railway lines.

- BANELE GININDZA

TRANSPORT Minister, Barbara Creecy, on Sunday pronounced on Request for Information (RFI) from third-parties as part of the private sector participation to invest in the country's passenger rail services and infrastructure. This will ensure that the country's rail passenger trips target of 600 million by 2030 is achieved.

(GCIS)

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on Sunday announced that the department had issued a series of Requests for Information (RFIs) aimed at attracting interest in projects that include:

the modernisation of Prasa’s major maintenance depots at Braamfontein and Wolmerton,

the introduction of a smart, account-based ticketing system across trains, buses, and taxis,

the upgrading of train depots to improve service reliability, and

the deployment of thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cable to support new digital and signaling systems.

the modernisation of Prasa’s major maintenance depots at Braamfontein and Wolmerton,

the introduction of a smart, account-based ticketing system across trains, buses, and taxis,

the upgrading of train depots to improve service reliability, and

the deployment of thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cable to support new digital and signaling systems.