The government is conducting a feasibility study to introduce a high-speed rail development between Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban, says transport minister Fikile Mbalula.<\/p>\n
Presenting to parliament’s select committee on transport on Wednesday (25 August), Mbalula said that the planned development will carry passengers as well as freight.<\/p>\n
He said that the government is also looking to overhaul its freight-by-rail plans, and is working on an updated rail policy for the country, currently being developed as a white paper.<\/p>\n
Mbalula warned that the recent unrest seen in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng will cause long-term damage to the country’s cargo and freight industry. The closure of the N3 had a significant impact on traffic volumes that rely on the highway and that the major route typically has traffic is in excess of 6,000 heavy vehicles per day.<\/p>\n
The four-day closure of the N3 meant R12 billion worth of goods did not arrive at their intended destinations, he said.<\/p>\n
He said that affected truck operators – operating a cross-border service – are already actively seeking alternative routes through other Southern African countries, avoiding South Africa due to the unrest.<\/p>\n
“Cargo owners are also looking at transporting their cargo through Namibia, Angola. Mozambique and further north,” he said. “If this trend continues, South Africa is at a risk of losing its gateway status for transit freight.”<\/p>\n