US EditionFreight sector welcomes rail reform to ease SA’s transport bottlenecks
South Africa's rail reform ends Transnet's monopoly with 11 private operators approved, aiming to increase freight volumes by 90 million tons annually and attract R100 billion in private investments.
- On August 26, 2025, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced that Transnet has finalized its selection of 11 new train operating companies to participate in South Africa's freight rail network.
- The process considered 25 applications submitted over a three-month period spanning late 2024 to early 2025 and seeks to enable private sector involvement in Transnet without transferring ownership.
- Two new operators were allocated to the Cape Corridor to manage manganese routes from Northern Cape mining regions to the Port of Saldanha, a key export hub that benefits mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.
- Creecy stated the reform will expand freight volumes, improve efficiency, lower costs, and potentially unlock up to R100 billion in private sector investment to modernise the rail system.
- The Western Cape Government urged all partners to urgently implement the reforms, which are expected to drive economic growth, create jobs, ease road congestion, and enhance South Africa‘s trade competitiveness.
11 Articles
11 Articles
South Africa: Western Cape Welcomes Efforts to Revitalise the National Rail System
[SAnews.gov.za] The Western Cape Provincial Government has expressed its support for Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's announcement regarding the completion of Transnet's adjudication process, which selected new Train Operating Companies (TOCs) through its Rail Infrastructure Manager.
South Africa opens Cape Corridor rail to new operators
The Western Cape Government has welcomed the announcement by National Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, confirming the completion of Transnet's adjudication process to select new Train Operating Companies (TOCs) through its Rail Infrastructure Manager. Two new TOCs have been allocated to the Cape…
Rail reform milestone to unlock R100bn investment and put SA economy back on track
By Busi Mavuso Last week an important step was taken toward a competitive and thriving logistics system in South Africa. Minister of transport Barbara Creecy announced the allocation of rail slots to 11 new train operating companies across 41 routes and six corridors. This is the realisation of years of intense collaboration between business and government to improve the performance of the rail network by introducing private operators and invest…
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