South Africa to revamp transport infrastructure

South Africa is to invest over US$6.5 billion in the country’s transport infrastructure in a bid to reduce road deaths. Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said that commuter rail infrastructure, identified as the safest mode of transport, will receive the lion’s share of the allocation as her ministry pushes to shift passengers from cars to into railway stations. To achieve this target, Peters said US$5.1 billion will be spent on commuter rail infrastructure and new rolling stock over the next three years.
August 26, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

South Africa is to invest over US$6.5 billion in the country’s transport infrastructure in a bid to reduce road deaths.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said that commuter rail infrastructure, identified as the safest mode of transport, will receive the lion’s share of the allocation as her ministry pushes to shift passengers from cars to into railway stations. To achieve this target, Peters said US$5.1 billion will be spent on commuter rail infrastructure and new rolling stock over the next three years.

A further US$1.4 billion will be channelled towards bus subsidies in the 2014/15 financial year to encourage a shift from private cars to public transport such as rail cars, thereby reducing road traffic.

The programme will see a total of US$93 million spent during the 2014/15 financial year, and a further US$99 million in the 2015/16 financial year to upgrade the ageing road infrastructure to ensure quality and safer roads, the minister said.

Related Content

  • October 2, 2013
    South Africa to upgrade public transport
    Speaking at the launch of South Africa’s 2013 Transport Month, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters pledged to spend more than US$500 million on planning, building and operating integrated public transport networks in more than thirteen cities in the country. The major cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town have already constructed over 20 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes. Both cities will expand operations to carry up to 100 thousand passengers a day on each system, while the bus rapid transport system in Joh
    Read More
  • August 26, 2022
    ITF diagnoses South Asia’s breathing difficulties
    One of the world’s fastest-growing regions faces major transport sector decisions if it is to avoid spiralling emissions problems in coming decades. Alan Dron takes a look at a new report on Asia from the International Transport Forum
    Read More
  • February 1, 2012
    South Africa's traffic management and enforcement gears up
    Paul Vorster, CEO of ITS South Africa, takes a look at the national enforcement situation in the year when the country gears up to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup. There are four main drivers pushing the growth of ITS-related law enforcement within South Africa. These are: transport operations associated with hosting the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010; traffic management linked to increasing congestion; the development of new public transport systems such as BRT; and vehicle and driver-related crime.
    Read More
  • June 23, 2016
    Boost for roads and infrastructure in New South Wales budget
    New South Wales infrastructure and services have received a boost in the 2016-17 budget. The government is investing US$15.3 billion (AU$20.2billion) in recurrent and capital funding, an increase of US$2.8 billion (AU$3.7 billion) on 2015-16. It is also providing significant funding for priority projects, including US$2.2 billion (AU$2.9 billion) for WestConnex, the largest transport project in Australia linking Sydney’s west and south-west with the CBD, the Airport and Port Botany. It will also provide
    Read More

Highlighted Content