Ramaphosa confirms major step towards high-speed trains in South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the government has launched a new Request for Information to gauge private-sector appetite for high-speed trains in South Africa.
Speaking at the inaugural National Transport Conference in Johannesburg on Monday, 16 March, Ramaphosa said transport infrastructure plays a central role in the country’s economic development and social progress.
“Transport is vital to our economy and our people. When our transport arteries are blocked or inefficient, growth stalls, costs rise, and opportunity diminishes. When they flow freely, the country thrives,” he said.
Ramaphosa stressed that modernising South Africa’s transport and logistics systems is about far more than simply moving passengers and cargo.
He said it’s about unlocking opportunity, restoring competitiveness, reducing inequality and enabling inclusive growth.
He noted that passenger rail forms a key part of this strategy, and said that a reliable rail network provides affordable transport and improves access to economic opportunities.
Ramaphosa pointed to progress already made in rebuilding the country’s commuter rail system through the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).
According to the president, the agency has revived 37 of its 40 priority passenger rail corridors and introduced more than 300 locally manufactured train sets.
“We are targeting 116 million passenger journeys this financial year, on our way to 600 million trips by 2029,” he said.
He added that reliable rail services can significantly reduce the cost of commuting while improving access to employment, education and healthcare.
Alongside rebuilding commuter rail, the government is also looking to expand regional and long-distance rail infrastructure through partnerships with private investors.
“We have launched a new Request for Information to attract private investment in rapid regional rail, rolling stock and depot modernisation,” Ramaphosa said.
The announcement follows similar remarks made during the president’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he emphasised the need for faster intercity travel.
South Africa cannot afford to fall behind
Ramaphosa argued that South Africa cannot afford to fall behind global transport trends and said that high-speed rail has become common in many parts of the world.
“High-speed trains are happening in many parts of the world,” he said, adding that they dramatically reduce travel times between major cities.
He criticised the current long-distance travel times between major cities and said they are no longer acceptable in a modern economy.
“In my book, it should no longer take five to six hours to travel from eThekwini or Durban to Johannesburg,” Ramaphosa said.
According to the president, public demand for faster rail services is strong. “Our people want it, and progress is now being made,” he said.
The RFI is intended to test the private sector’s appetite and gather technical input before the government moves to the next stage of the project.
Following this engagement phase, Ramaphosa said authorities plan to proceed with a formal procurement process.
“We are preparing to send out a request for proposals, which will introduce a new era of long-distance rail travel in South Africa at a faster pace,” he said.
Despite the renewed push, high-speed rail in South Africa has a long history of ambitious proposals that have struggled to move beyond planning stages.
The concept was first raised more than a decade ago under former transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele in 2010.
President Ramaphosa reiterated the idea in his 2019 State of the Nation Address, envisioning bullet trains running from Johannesburg to Musina, with further connections to cities such as Buffalo City and eThekwini.
Further progress came in 2022 when the transport minister, Fikile Mbalula, gazetted a National Rail Policy White Paper that identified high-speed rail corridors as a key development objective.
This policy was approved by Cabinet in November 2023, and in his 2024 State of the Nation Address, Ramaphosa confirmed the government would now prioritise feasibility studies.
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