The government wants to privatise two of the country’s busiest passenger rail routes currently run by Prasa, says Rapport.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week – without providing details – that as part of his economic recovery plan government was seeking ‘greater participation of the private sector in rail transport’.

Advisers in the Presidency later said the routes between Cape Town and Khayelitsha and the corridor between Mabopane and Tshwane were priorities.

Legislation that would make this possible should be ready by the end of the year, the advisers said.

The plan is to create a body similar to Sanral for roads that would be responsible for railways infrastructure while private operators would be allowed to compete with Prasa by using the same railways at a fee.

Mesela Nhlapo, chief executive of the SA Railroad Association, says ‘access to railways for third parties from the private sector is exactly what (they’ve) been seeking for years’.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula told MPs earlier this year that Prasa was bleeding R672 000 a day due to the number of train services being suspended.

On the Mabopane-Tshwane route, train numbers have decreased from 388 a few years ago to the current 79 along with the deterioration in Prasa’s service and the infrastructure.

Full report in Rapport (subscription needed)