WESTERN CAPE TRANSPORT PLANS
Posted on 01 February 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
According to a 14 January media briefing by Premier Helen Zille and transport MEC Robin Carlisle, the Western Cape government has targeted 2014 for achieving a 10% shift from road haulage to rail freight and a 13% modal shift from private to public transport. This would result in a 60:40 private:public transport split into the central business district of Cape Town, compared to the current 69:31. To realise these objectives, rail transport is to be promoted, rapid trunk routes for existing [road] public transport services are to be provided and the minibus-taxi industry is to beformalised.
Carlisle estimated that the province had R10 billion to R13 billion available for its plans, and was quoted saying that “ten to 13 billion buys a lot of BRT [bus rapid transit] and it buys a lot of trainsets.”
Zille admitted the targets were ambitious, but said she would rather strive for the “near impossible” than set the benchmark too low. (Late in 2009, Zille was forced to concede late that the cost of Cape Town’s planned integrated rapid transport system had been underestimated by more than 300%).
[ Getting 10% of freight off the road and onto rail looks like a tall order. Virtually all the goods sidings along Cape Town’s suburban lines have been lifted and the council has been allowing flats to be built where goods yards used to be. – editor
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