High-speed rail on trial

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT: JOZI TO DURBAN TRAIN PLANS BACK ON TRACK

- Roy Cokayne

DEADLINE: The request for information can be responded to online until 15 December.

(Picture: Shutterstock)

The department of transport has developed a plan to "test the water" for a new 300km/h high-speed railway between Johannesburg and Durban by launching a new era of long distance regional rapid transit in SA.

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy launched a request for information (RFI) process on Sunday for potential private partners to provide insights and innovative ideas for investment in a new generation of faster, safer and more frequent regional trains and four other potential private-sector-participation passenger rail system opportunities.

She said the 120km/h regional trains will use the existing network and connect cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, Polokwane, Musina, Mbombela and Durban, with plans to build new 160km/h-200km/h regional lines.