The massive cost implications – estimated at R1.5 trillion - of a move from the current 1 065 mm wide Cape gauge railways lines to standard gauge tracks would need careful consideration, acting CE of Transnet, Siyabonga Gama, said yesterday.
“A move like this – proposed by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, in the National Rail Policy Green Paper – would require extensive analysis and the full impact on operations would need to be considered before a decision could be made on this,” said Gama.
Speaking on the side lines of the signing of a R12-billion funding deal for the acquisition of 1 064 locomotives yesterday, Gama commented that he could see why Peters was proposing this as it was in line with the African Union resolution that all future railways must be on standard gauge.
“It does make sense on some levels but what happens if South Africa changes gauge and our Southern African Development Community (SADC) neighbours don’t? The switchover would also have to form part of a regionally integrated strategy,” added Gama.
